Obesity Awareness Week: It’s Time for Action!
Today marks the beginning of Obesity Awareness Week, a crucial period dedicated to shedding light on the growing health concern of obesity. The latest Health Survey for England in 2021 has reported alarming figures, revealing that 25.9% of adults in England are classified as obese, with an additional 37.9% falling into the category of overweight but not obese. As we embark on this awareness week, it’s imperative to understand the profound impact obesity can have on our health and overall well-being.
The Reality of Obesity: Being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk of life-threatening conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and is rapidly becoming a leading cause of cancer in the UK, nearly rivalling smoking. Beyond physical health, the strain on joints, leading to reduced mobility, and the profound impact on mental health are critical considerations.
Understanding Your BMI: A useful tool in assessing your weight is the Body Mass Index (BMI), with a BMI over 25 considered overweight and over 30 indicating obesity. As part of Obesity Awareness Week, take a moment to understand your BMI using our convenient online calculator.
Expert Insight: Dr. Charlotte Norton, Medical Director at The Slimming Clinic, emphasizes the importance of an individualized approach to weight loss. The team of medical professionals at the clinic works collaboratively with patients to implement sustainable changes. Dr. Norton highlights that weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all solution and encourages individuals to evaluate their daily habits, food intake, and lifestyle to identify small, manageable changes.
Medical Support for Weight Management: Weight loss medications, when combined with a healthy diet and increased activity, can be effective tools for managing weight. Drugs like Wegovy have demonstrated significant weight loss results, helping patients achieve a reduction of 15% or more from their starting weight.
Addressing Emotional Eating: Emotional eating can derail weight-loss efforts, leading to overeating or reliance on high-calorie, unhealthy foods. The Slimming Clinic offers support from Weight Loss Professionals who specialize in guiding patients towards healthier eating patterns and understanding emotional eating triggers.
Making Movement a Priority: Incorporating movement into your daily routine doesn’t have to be daunting. Simple steps, such as aiming for 5,000 steps a day and gradually increasing the target, or trying a new exercise class, can make a significant impact. Movement is not only beneficial for physical health but also contributes to mental well-being.
Whether you are personally navigating weight concerns or supporting someone in their journey, The Slimming Clinic provides personalised programmes. For those classified as overweight, achieving a 10% reduction in body fat can lead to substantial health benefits, reducing the risk of obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. So taking action can result in massive health benefits.
As we observe Obesity Awareness Week, let’s take a collective step towards healthier living.
Our team at The Slimming Clinic are here to help when you are ready to take the first step towards a healthier BMI..