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The Obesity Problem...

Overweight and obesity are two of the major health hazards of today's world. They are not new and they are not local. In aWeighing Scales recent technical report, the World Health Organisation drew attention to the extent of the problem of obesity.

"... obesity is one of today's most blatantly visible - yet most neglected - public health problems. Paradoxically coexisting with under-nutrition, an escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity - "globesity" - is taking over many parts of the world. If immediate action is not taken, millions will suffer from an array of serious health disorders.
"Obesity is a complex condition, one with serious social and psychological dimensions, that affects virtually all age and socio-economic groups and threatens to overwhelm both developed and developing countries. In 1995, there were an estimated 200 million obese adults world-wide and another 18 million under-five children classified as overweight. As of 2000, the number of obese adults has increased to over 300 million. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the obesity epidemic is not restricted to industrialised societies; in developing countries, it is estimated that over 115 million people suffer from obesity-related problems."

Within the United Kingdom, the National Audit Office (NAO) produced "Tackling Obesity in England" in 2001. In their report, the NAO showed that in 1998, nearly a fifth of all adults were obese, whilst more than half the women - and two-thirds of the men - were at least overweight.
Obesity in UK
  1986 1997 Est2005 Est2010
% men
7%
17%
22%
26%
% women
12%
20%
25%
28%
from NAO 2001

Hazards

Overweight is identified as a risk factor for a number of disorders - coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, liver disorders, osteoarthritis and some forms of cancer, as well as excess risk during surgery and a range of psychological problems. It is estimated that the overall increase in mortality is approximately 15% for every 10% that a person is above their 'normal' weight.

Body Mass Index

So, how do you know what your risk level actually is, and what would be a healthy weight for you personally?

Health Professionals use a measure known as the Body Mass Index (BMI) which anyone can calculate. Alternatively, you can look up your height in our handy table (right-hand panel) to find the BMI band that your weight puts you in. Risk factors are also related to where fat is distributed in the body and the Ashwell Shape Chart © explains how to calculate your own level of risk.

To calculate your own BMI, click here.

 

Health Risks
  BMI Risk Waist (men)
Underweight <20   >37in
Healthy 20 - 25 Normal >37in
Overweight 25-30 Increased >40in
Obese 30-40 Moderate  
Morbidly obese >40 Very severe  
from WHO 1998

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