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The Serious Issue of Obesity |
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Written by Linda Farington
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Statistics suggest that in the UK, 25 per cent of all adults
are
classed as clinically obese. And despite government warnings
about risking obesity-related illnesses such as heart disease
and cancer, our waistlines keep growing.
The World Health Organization predicts there will be 2.3 billion
overweight adults in the world by 2015 and more than 700 million
of them will be obese. Figures for 2005 indicate that 1.6
billion adults were overweight and 400 million were obese.
Here are some facts about obesity...
--- Obesity is steadily increasing worldwide and fast becoming
the world's biggest health problem. Recent reports suggest that
it may soon overtake cigarette smoking as a serious health risk
--- Being overweight or obese can affect nearly every part of
your body. It can increase your chances of having a heart
attack, a stroke, and having high blood pressure.
--- Obesity increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, certain
cancers, back and joint pain, osteoarthritis, gallstones, fatty
liver, infertility, snoring, depression, difficulty sleeping,
excessive sweating and breathlessness.
--- Non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with
obesity include respiratory difficulties, chronic
musculoskeletal problems, skin problems and infertility
--- In the past ten years obesity has doubled in six-year-olds
(to 8.5 per cent) and trebled among 15-year-olds (to 15 per cent).
--- Over 30,000 deaths a year are directly caused by obesity in
the UK alone. A study by the National Audit Office in 2002
estimated the condition costs the NHS £500 million a year.
The
overall cost to the country is estimated at up to £7.4
billion a
year.
--- A further report from the National Audit Office concluded
that obesity could shave an average of nine years from your
lifespan.
--- Lack of motivation is one of the main problems people who
are trying to lose weight face.
--- The UK has the highest percentage of overweight people in
Europe A person is classed as obese when their weight has
increased to a point where it seriously endangers their health.
It is diagnosed when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds
30. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilo grammes by
height in meters squared.
Obesity is normally caused by a combination of eating too much
of the wrong types of food and not taking enough exercise.
Overweight children have a 50 per cent chance of being
overweight adults. If current trends continue, it is estimated
that at least one third of adults, one fifth of boys, and one
third of girls will be obese by 2020.
These are quite staggering statistics and it's obvious that
something has to be done to stop the growing number of cases of
obesity.
It can be achieved by means of education, (in particular the
children) to rethink our attitude to the whole subject of eating
and more importantly, exercise. There is no reason why we cannot
reduce the number of people suffering from obesity. It will take
time and a lot of effort on everyone's part but it is
achievable.
About the Author:
Linda Farington writes weight loss, diet plan, health, beauty
and general well-being articles for
Lose Weight Reviews
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