Obesity

Obesity is a condition which has now reached epidemic proportions both here in the UK and worldwide, with around 300 million sufferers. No longer considered a case of simply easting too much, obesity has now been recognized as a serious chronic disease with several affecting factors and causes. As a condition, obesity is responsible for drastically damaging human health by raising the incidence of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, arthritis and adult onset diabetes which cause over 30,000 deaths a year in the UK alone.

Why is obesity growing so fast? It is not simply a case of us eating more than we did a generation ago; life is far more sedentary than it has ever been before, with the only physical activity many of us getting on a daily basis being the walk from our front doors to our cars. In fact studies have indicated that people living in the 1950’s actually consumed more calories than we do today, but with a lifestyle which demanded far more physical activity people found it easier to stay in shape.

What causes Obesity?

Obesity is caused, essentially, when the number of calories which are consumed by a person is greater than the number used during physical activity. This excess is then stored in the body as fat. In more severe cases of obesity, such as in those who are morbidly obese, there are many other contributing factors which have all helped to cause the obesity condition. These factors, including genetic and those inherited, behavioral, and environmental, can all contribute to a person's weight and without proper help or guidance can cause weight gain to remain uncontrollable.

How is it treated?

There are several methods currently available for the treatment of obesity. The particular method which would be suitable for you would depend on the severity level of obesity that you suffer with. Ranging from low calorie diets to drastic surgical options, you can find a list of the available treatments below;

• Oral Medication
• Physical Activity
• Meal Replacements
• Low Carbohydrate diets (e.g. The Atkin's Diet)
• Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCDs)
• Herbal / Natural Products
• Anti-Obesity Surgery

For more information on obesity treatment options please click here to visit our treatment information section for obesity.

What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) uses a mathematical formula based on a person's height and weight. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m²). The BMI table that follows has already calculated this information. Although the BMI ranges shown in the table are not exact ranges of healthy and unhealthy weight, they are useful guidelines. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

To calculate your BMI you can use our calculator by clicking here