Obesity - Weighing Up The Risks

Obesity rates in the UK have tripled in the last 25 years and look set to rise, seriously affecting the health of many and costing the NHS and UK economy over £3 billion a year. What is obesity?

Obesity is when a person is overweight, or if they have too much body fat for their height and sex. It is now estimated that one in five men and a quarter of women in the UK are obese and this figure is increasing rapidly. It is possible to work out if you are obese by checking your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a good estimate of how much of your body is made up of fat.

Your BMI is a measurement based on height and weight and is worked out by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of your height in metres.

What causes obesity?

For most people, obesity is caused by eating many more calories than the body needs so that the body stores the extra calories as fat. High sugar and fat levels in many fast foods and increasing portion sizes are partly to blame for this.

But, although most cases of obesity are caused by eating too many calories, it can also be caused by other factors. Current lifestyles mean that many of us exercise less. Increasingly we use cars and modern gadgets and this, combined with less physically demanding jobs, means that we often do not do enough physical activity.

Some medicines and medical conditions can also cause weight gain, although this is a cause of less than 1% of cases of obesity. Genes may also play a part in some cases, and some people may have faulty signals to the brain which control appetite and the feeling of fullness, but these are also rare.

Children of obese parents are also more likely to be overweight but this may be partly due to learning bad eating habits from their parents.

Am I overweight because my metabolism is slow?

Most people who are overweight actually have a normal or high metabolic rate because they use more energy to carry the extra weight. But, some people have an under-active thyroid which slows metabolism and causes weight gain. If you have any concerns, your GP can do a blood test to check your thyroid.

Why should I lose weight?

First of all - do you need to lose weight? Knowing your BMI can let you know if you are a healthy weight or not. You need to have the motivation to lose weight. Some people do not feel that being overweight or obese is a problem and do not want to lose weight. Although this is a personal choice, obesity can cause many other health problems as it increases the risk of:

diabetes
heart disease
high blood pressure
liver disease and cirrhosis
infertility
complications during pregnancy
stroke
arthritis
cancer - mainly in the oesophagus (gullet) and pancreas

If you are obese, or overweight, losing even a small amount of weight can lower these risks to your health. How can I lose weight?

The best way to lose weight is to eat a healthier diet, do more exercise and take advice from a health professional. The safest way to do so is slowly and steadily - losing about one to two pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) each week. Dr Jude Oben, consultant gastroenterologist at the Trust, says: "Pills or endoscopic and surgical options may be available to help you lose weight, but the first step is increased exercise and eating less. Cut out the snacks and get moving! You will feel better for it and it will reduce your health risks."

Most areas have local services that are designed to help people lose weight and lead a healthier life. Your GP or practice nurse will be able to advise you about the services in your area.