National Obesity Awareness Week

Complications of Obesity - NRG Gym Health Advice

If you’re anything like the rest of the country you’ve quite possibly piled on a few pounds over the holiday season. So this week to the 14th January is the ideal week to start losing weight. From being more physically active to eating more healthily you can start right now. Clearly getting to the gym is a good move towards losing weight.

According to the NHS, being “obese” affects around one in every four adults. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your score.

For most adults, a BMI of: 8.5 to 24.9 means you’re a healthy weight; 25 to 29.9 means you’re overweight; 30 to 39.9 means you’re obese; and 40 or above means you’re severely obese

However, because people who are muscular sometimes have a high BMI without excess fat, a better measure of excess fat is waist circumference. Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.

This week is National Obesity Awareness Week to highlight this national problem. Being overweight not only limits lifestyle, it can be a killer.

It can contribute to a number of serious illnesses:

• type 2 diabetes

• coronary heart disease

• stroke

• asthma

• types of cancer, such as breast, womb and bowel cancer

It’s estimated that obesity and being overweight contribute to at least 1 in every 13 deaths in Europe.

Being overweight can also cause:

• breathlessness

• increased sweating

• acid reflux

• snoring

• joint and back pain

• gallstones

• reduced fertility

• liver & kidney disease

• low self-esteem

• feeling isolated & depression

The best way to beat being overweight is the obvious way – eat a reduced-calorie healthy diet and regularly exercise. Our gyms are the ideal places to burn calories and our personal trainers can advise you on a healthy diet. Come and see us!