Overcoming obesity

Tuesday, 21 September 2010 08:19

With latest figures from The Health and Social Care Information Centre highlighting that almost a quarter of adults in England are classified as obese, it is perhaps not surprising that the weight of the nation has become a hotly debated topic in the national media with celebrities such as Jamie Oliver campaigning for a change in the nation’s eating habits.

But to understand how to tackle obesity, we need to first understand exactly what obesity is and why it is so detrimental to our health and well being.

What is obesity?

Obesity is a term used to describe heavy accumulation of fat in the body - not just a few pounds of extra weight but large amounts of excess fat – the result of which is a rapid increase in the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease and the potential to decrease life expectancy. Other problems caused by obesity include: physical issues such as difficulties in breathing, walking and running and increased sweating; medical conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol; and psychological issues such as low self esteem, anxiety and depression.

Measuring obesity

We can measure whether or not we are obese by using the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is calculated by taking your weight (kg) and dividing it by the square of your height (m). We’ve developed a BMI calculator which will do all the hard work for you. If your BMI is 25 or above then you will need to consider losing weight. A BMI of 30 or above is described as clinically obese and if you find out that you fall into this category then you should take extra measures to keep your weight in check.

Tackling obesity

The first steps we would recommend for anyone worried about their weight is that they change their diet and take up some form of exercise.  Even simple steps, such as walking more often and replacing sugary snacks with fruit can make a real difference. What we would like to see is a weight loss of 0.5kg or 1llb per week.

Our GPs and practice nurses can help patients with weight management and diet-related information.

There are also other ways in which your practice can help you to lose weight for those with a BMI over 27 and weight loss surgery may also be an option if you have a BMI of 35 or more. Make an appointment with your GP or Nurse  if you would like any further information.

Obesity in children

According to The Health and Social Care Information Centre, in 2008 16.8% of boys aged 2 – 15 years old and 15.2% of girls were classed as obese. Physical activity amongst young children has decreased over the years and so the NHS and schools are working on several different programmes designed to get kids more active.

At DMC Healthcare we have developed a community education programme in partnership with a local school in Newham to help target the over 11-year-olds.  Working with the Physical Education teacher we introduced healthy eating education sessions and pedometers to measure 30 minute exercise programmes. The programme was a success with results showing a decrease in BMI for 83% of the pupils involved and 86% of pupils increasing their exercise levels. It is programmes such as these that we will work hard to deliver to other local communities to help reduce childhood obesity.

Want to find out more about changing your tackling obesity? Visit http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx

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