Obesity: UK 'going down road of America' says David Lammy
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Commissioned by NHS Digital, and based on interviews with 5,880 adults, the results show that more than two-thirds of men are now overweight or obese. In 1993, when records began, 13 percent of men were obese; now, wc allis 25 percent are obese. As for the proportion of men who are classified as overweight, this has increased from 58 percent in 1993 to 69 percent (based on the survey results).
Middle-aged people, aged 45 to 54, and pensioners, aged 65 to 74, were the most likely to have weight issues.
A whooping 73 percent of each group were marked as overweight or obese in the survey.
Men are seemingly a stone heavier nowadays compared to 1993, with the average weight in 2021 being 13st 7lbs (85.1kg).
Caution is warranted, however, as the 2021 results, which were released yesterday, were reported over the phone.
READ MORE: The colour in your poo that is ‘early sign’ of bowel cancer – seen in 89% of cases
As for women, they have reportedly put on 11 pounds on average compared to 1993.
Nearly 30 years ago, women, on average, weighed 10st 7lbs (66.6kg); in 2021, this had gone up to 11st 4lbs (85.1kg).
Obesity and illnesses related to it cost the NHS an estimated £6.1 billion a year.
Carrying excess weight is associated with numerous diseases, from diabetes to cancer.
The NHS says: “It’s very important to take steps to tackle obesity because… it can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.”
Serious health conditions associated with obesity include:
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Asthma
- Metabolic syndrome
- Cancers
- Gallstones
- Reduced fertility
- Osteoarthritis
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Sleep apnoea.
The NHS adds: “Obesity reduces life expectancy by an average of three to 10 years, depending on how severe it is.”
Am I overweight?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator is a simplified way to find out if a person is a healthy weight for their height.
READ MORE: The foods you should avoid this Christmas and when to eat – 10 top tips from ZOE professor
“For most adults, having a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means you’re considered to be a healthy weight,” the NHS says.
“A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight, and someone with a BMI over 30 is considered to be obese.”
While the BMI measurement can be useful, it’s not accurate for muscular individuals.
This is because muscle can weigh more than fat, thereby skewing the results.
In these cases, the health body recommends measuring your waist circumference.
“Measuring your waist is a good way to check you’re not carrying too much fat around your stomach,” the NHS notes.
An excess of fat around the stomach raises the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
“You can have a healthy BMI and still have excess tummy fat, meaning you’re still at risk of developing these conditions,” the NHS adds.
To measure your waist:
- Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips.
- Wrap a tape measure around your waist midway between these points.
- Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement.
Source: Read Full Article