Health Matters! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Health Matters! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Body weight

Body weight is determined by energy intake from food and energy output, i.e. energy needed for basic body processes (such as keeping the heart beating) and for physical activity.

If a person regularly takes in even a little more energy from their diet than they need, they will start to gain weight and eventually become overweight.

Carrying too much extra weight as fat

may impair health

Obesity around the world

The World Health Organisation (WHO) projected in 2005 that there were approximately 1.6 billion overweight adults (age +15) and 400 million obese adults.

WHO estimated at least 20 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight in 2005.

Fat storage

It is normal to store fat during growth, particularly during infancy and adolescence. It is therefore difficult to measure obesity in children.

The NHS data (2005) shows the number of obese children has tripled over the last 20 years. At least 10% of six-year-olds and 17% of 15-year-olds are now obese.

Childhood obesity is a strong indication that the child will be obese as an adult and is likely to lead to health risks in later life.

Health problems associated with obesity

People who are obese are more likely to suffer from:

• coronary heart disease;

• type 2 diabetes;

• gall stones;

• arthritis;

• high blood pressure;

• some types of cancers, i.e. colon,

breast, kidney and stomach.

Health issues and weight loss

Most of the health problems associated with obesity decrease through weight loss.

People who are very overweight find it more difficult to be physically active and this may add to their health problems.

The role of physical activity

Many people in the UK have very inactive lifestyles – few people have physically active jobs or participate in significant amounts of physical activity out of work.