THE PROBLEM WITH OBESITY

Most of us are concerned about our weight from time to time, especially after Christmas or holidays when we may have over-indulged and taken very little exercise.  This is perfectly normal: I doubt that there are many people whose weight doesn’t fluctuate by some degree.

Obesity is already a problem by the age of 5. It is also a totally reversible condition.

For some people though, it is much more of a problem.  Their weight is a constant issue and is seriously affecting their health and quality of life.  Research now suggests that by the age of 5, 25% of children have already gained significant amounts of unnecessary body fat with 10% being obese.  This is noteworthy because many government initiatives are aimed at school children rather than the under 5’s.  Another interesting statistic is that at birth, children still weigh the same as they did 25 years ago: it’s the next five years where the difference is acute. 

The problems arise probably more from diet than lack of exercise.  People are relying more and more on ready made meals – with good reason, as many mums work as well as bring up families, often on their own (and if the government succeeds with the latest ideas for getting people back to work and off benefits, this is set to rise).  These meals can be very high in sugar and fats, especially at the cheaper end of the range.  Portion size seems to have grown over the years, with consumers being encouraged to buy more than they want.  Have you ever gone into a shop, asked for a bar of chocolate and come out with two because the offer was too good to resist?  In burger bars, you may want just a burger, but you’re encouraged to go for the better value full meal, complete with chips (covered in salt) and a fizzy drink.

Clearly, the problem with obesity in the under 5’s is down to the parents.  It may well start with breastfeeding: a baby will decide on portion size when it is being breastfed.  Even if your diet is essentially good, you need to control the size of your meals in order to control your weight.  Apparently, parents object to the word “obese” being used when discussing the health of their children.  We do seem to skirt around this issue, not wanting to hurt people’s feelings by pointing out the truth.  You wouldn’t believe the number of adults who blame their weight problems on their lack of resistance to the cakes, sweets, crisps, biscuits and other snacks kept in the house for their children!  Children absolutely don’t need this stuff – it’s creating health problems which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It’s a health hazard. Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including: 

• Heart disease and stroke.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Cancer.
• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Gout.
• Breathing problems, such as asthma.  

The fact is that is totally reversible so let’s do something about it!

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