The risks of being overweight
The UK population is getting fatter, with levels of obesity tripling since 1980. Over half of women, and around
two-thirds of men are now either overweight or obese.
The main explanation for this is a change in our diet and lifestyles. High calorie food is cheap, well advertised and
constantly available. Meanwhile, heavy work in industry and agriculture has mostly been replaced by sedentary
activities in service industries. And increased use of cars, computers and labour-saving devices have cut the amount
of physical activity in the daily routine.
The risks of being overweight
Being overweight increases the risk of health problems including heart attack and stroke, diabetes, bowel cancer and
high blood pressure. Excess weight also makes arthritis more likely and can make breathing and sleeping difficult.
The risk of health problems increases the more overweight you are.
Causes of obesity
A calorie is a unit of energy. We take in calories when we eat and drink, and burn them up in daily activity. When
the amount of calories taken in from food and drink equals the amount burnt off through physical activity, body weight
remains roughly stable. The cause of obesity is consistently eating more calories than are burnt off.
Obesity does run in families, and the tendency to put on weight is greater in some people than in others eating a
similar diet. However, it is likely that family eating and activity habits are a more important cause of obesity.
How to be a healthy weight
In order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories through physical activity than you take in from food and
drink. This means tipping the "energy balance" by eating fewer calories, burning more of them off or, preferably, a
combination of both of these.
If you have a lot of weight to lose, it is better to set a realistic medium-term goal, rather than aiming to lose 50
kg. Doctors often suggest a 10 percent weight loss to begin with, achieved over about six months. You should do this
by tipping the energy balance. Then, once you've managed this, look again at setting a new goal. At this level, you
may already have reduced many of the risks to your health and your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol is
likely to be lower. You may feel and look better too.
two-thirds of men are now either overweight or obese.
The main explanation for this is a change in our diet and lifestyles. High calorie food is cheap, well advertised and
constantly available. Meanwhile, heavy work in industry and agriculture has mostly been replaced by sedentary
activities in service industries. And increased use of cars, computers and labour-saving devices have cut the amount
of physical activity in the daily routine.
The risks of being overweight
Being overweight increases the risk of health problems including heart attack and stroke, diabetes, bowel cancer and
high blood pressure. Excess weight also makes arthritis more likely and can make breathing and sleeping difficult.
The risk of health problems increases the more overweight you are.
Causes of obesity
A calorie is a unit of energy. We take in calories when we eat and drink, and burn them up in daily activity. When
the amount of calories taken in from food and drink equals the amount burnt off through physical activity, body weight
remains roughly stable. The cause of obesity is consistently eating more calories than are burnt off.
Obesity does run in families, and the tendency to put on weight is greater in some people than in others eating a
similar diet. However, it is likely that family eating and activity habits are a more important cause of obesity.
How to be a healthy weight
In order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories through physical activity than you take in from food and
drink. This means tipping the "energy balance" by eating fewer calories, burning more of them off or, preferably, a
combination of both of these.
If you have a lot of weight to lose, it is better to set a realistic medium-term goal, rather than aiming to lose 50
kg. Doctors often suggest a 10 percent weight loss to begin with, achieved over about six months. You should do this
by tipping the energy balance. Then, once you've managed this, look again at setting a new goal. At this level, you
may already have reduced many of the risks to your health and your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol is
likely to be lower. You may feel and look better too.
