Obesity

One in five adults in this country are obese.  This figure has trebled over the past 20 years. Among children, one in four are overweight, with one in eight obese.

Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

Overweight children are more likely to get diabetes or heart disease in later life. Many will also be affected by teasing or bullying, low self esteem, social isolation, embarrassment when playing games and sports and difficulty in being active. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. This likelihood increases the more obese a child is, as well as increasing if the child's parents are obese.

This section of our web site will tell you more about overweight and obesity. It explains the benefits of watching your weight, offers tips for healthy eating and physical activity, and provides contact details for other organisations that offer further support.

Nearly two-thirds of men, half of women and a third of children are overweight or obese. Don't be one of them!

How is Leeds tackling this issue?
How do I know if I am overweight or obese?
Why lose weight?
Top tips for losing weight
What is physical activity?
What is the right level for me to be active?
Why should I be physically active?
Where do I start?
Useful links

How is Leeds tackling this issue?  Back to top

The Government has set out its plans to tackle obesity in the Public Health white paper Choosing Health. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is preparing guidance on prevention, identification, management and treatment of obesity as well as a comprehensive care pathway for prevention and treatment of obesity. This will include support tools for NHS staff to assess risk of overweight and obesity in their patients and give advice on practical action to prevent and manage obesity through changes to diet and physical activity.

In Leeds there are lots of local initiatives around supporting local people to eat a healthier diet and to be more physically active. This includes the Leeds Childhood Obesity Strategy, the Leeds Healthy Schools Programme, and work around promoting 5 a day and developing a citywide strategy for physical activity. We have also been involved in the development of Leeds Food Matters: a food strategy for Leeds 2006-2010.

How do I know if I am overweight or obese?  Back to top

Obesity is generally assessed by the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing an individual's weight measured in kilograms by their height in metres, squared. An adult is considered to be overweight if the figure is in-between 25-30 and obese if they have a BMI of more than 30.

Waist circumference is also important. If you are an apple shape (where most of your weight is carried around your middle), you have a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes than if you are pear shaped.

As a rough guide for adults, your waist measurement should be less than half your height. Try measuring your waist with a tape measure and see how you shape up against the table below:

	You are at Increased risk if your waist is more than:	You are at High risk if your waist is more than:
European men	94cm (37 inches)	102cm (40 inches)
European and Asian women	80cm (32 inches)	88cm (35 inches)
Asian men	90 cm (36 inches)	102 cm (40 inches)

As a rough guide for children, if their clothes are right for their height but too tight around their waist they could be overweight.

Why lose weight?  Back to top

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight could:

• Make you fitter and healthier
• Increase your confidence and self esteem
• Reduce your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers 
• Help you to look good and feel great

Top tips for losing weight  Back to top

• No food is a bad food it's all about moderation. The Food Standards Agency's Balance of Good Health model shows the proportions of foods that make up a healthy diet.
• Supersize your fruit and veg - try to eat 5 a day, or just eat more.
• Downsize fats and sugars, foods such as biscuits, pastries, crisps, chocolate and most takeaways are high in fat and sugars. Cutting down on these should help you to lose weight.
• Be more active - just being that little bit more active may help you to control your weight.
• Swap high calorie foods for healthier choices (chocolate for a banana).
• Stop frying food and try grilling it instead (but not the egg!)
• Shrink your portion sizes. It's fine to eat plenty of fruit and veg, but watch other food portion sizes.
• Eat regular meals  - don't skip meals. Breakfast is especially important when trying to lose weight, and will set you up for the day.
• It's a life-style thing - it's as important to maintain your weight loss as it is to lose it in the first place. Make changes that you can stick to for life, not just a fortnight.
• Be realistic - set yourself small and achievable goals, not huge unachievable ones.
• Don't forget - eat a variety of foods and, most importantly, enjoy what you eat!

For children over five years, all of the above advice is sound. Evidence shows that reducing the amount of sugary drinks that children have can also help. Limiting the time they spend on sedentary activities such as computer games or watching television has also been found to be effective.

What is physical activity?  Back to top

Physical activity is any body movement produced by your muscles that uses energy (burns calories). It's not something new, it's something you already do every day.

What is the right level for me to be active?  Back to top

The table below shows the recommended activity levels for general health benefits.
 

	How much?	How often?	Examples
Adults	At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity* physical activity	On five or more days of the week	Brisk walking Swimming Cycling Dancing Gardening DIY Housework
Children	At least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity* physical activity	Every day**	Brisk walking Jogging Swimming Dancing Cycling Football Netball

* Moderate-intensity physical activity is any activity that makes you feel warm and breathe slightly harder than normal.

** At least twice a week, children are advised to include activities to improve bone health (e.g. walking, jogging or jumping around), and activities to improve muscle strength (e.g. cycling, football, netball). They should also do light stretching, to improve their flexibility.

Why should I be physically active?  Back to top

People with a healthy active lifestyle tend to live longer, and have a better quality of life. This benefits not only you, but also your friends and family.

Physical activity helps you to lose and control body weight, and also reduces many effects associated with heart disease (including high blood pressure), diabetes and even some cancers.

Being active can also make you feel good, improve your self confidence and raise your self esteem.

You will find that you have more energy, and better ways of coping with stressful situations.

Where do I start?  Back to top

Try to increase the amount of walking you do - increase the distance, or the speed.

Visit local parks, and try out your local leisure centre ? they have a wide selection of activities and are a great place to start.

Useful links  Back to top

Leeds Leisure Services

Weightwatchers

Watch It (for children and teenagers having difficulty with their weight)

Slimming World

Rosemary Conley

Your Weight, Your Health (Department of Health information leaflet)

TOAST (The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust)

BBC's Big Challenge

Foodfitness

Just eat more (fruit & veg)