obesity

• obesity is when the body has too much fat
• obesity affects roughly one in every four adults in the UK
• body mass index is often used to check if someone is obese
• for adults of white heritage, a bmi between 18.5 and 25 is classed as a healthy weight, between 25 and 30 as overweight and 30 plus as obese
• for adults from black, asian and some other minority ethnic groups, a BMI between 18.5 and 23 is classed as a healthy weight, between 23 and 27.5 as overweight and above 27.5 as obese
• BMI is not always a reliable indicator eg a person could weigh a lot and have a high BMI due to large muscle mass rather than body fat
• also BMI does not work on pregnant women
• causes of obesity:

  • an incorrect balance of energy - consuming more calories than you use
  • diet and lifestyle factors eg eating lots of food high in fat and sugar or doing little physical activity
  • genetics and medical conditions may also contribute to obesity
• health problems related to obesity:

  • high blood pressure and high cholesterol, leading to coronary heart disease and strokes
  • a greater risk of developing serious health conditions eg type 2 diabetes and cancer
  • breathing difficulties and tiredness
  • obesity can also affect mental health and self-esteem