Maintain a healthy weight with this guidance
As a nation, it appears that we are becoming more overweight. With the number of obesity cases tripling in the last 25 years, it’s no surprise that this growing health concern has taken centre-stage in recent news stories.
Researchers now warn that obesity is reaching worrying epidemic proportions and that over 50% of England could be obese by 2050.
Why are health officials so worried about obesity?
Being overweight puts people at an increased risk of a wide range of avoidable health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. Recent research suggests that last year, there were 163,000 new cases of diabetes and that the increase is largely due to the rise of obesity. There is also growing concern about the increasing burden on the NHS, as obesity-linked health conditions are said to cost the NHS over £5 billion per year.
The good news is that practicing a healthy lifestyle can help to improve or prevent obesity and its associated health problems. Dietitian and health coach Andrew Wilson is working with Life Line Screening to help people make little changes to their diet which can have a big impact on their health. “Diet and lifestyle habits play an important part in preventing obesity and substantially reducing our risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes. There are simple ways you can improve your diet without cutting out the foods you love altogether; it’s about developing healthy habits that will help you stick to a new routine.”
Top Tips to Prevent Obesity and Achieve a Healthy Weight:
Cut your sugar intake by half: Sugar has recently been framed as the number one enemy in the western diet. It’s reported that refined sugars offer zero nutritional value and contributes to obesity. Doctors suggest sugar levels need to be reduced by 50% to avoid further risk of disease and death.
Stay hydrated: Having a glass of water before and after a meal can make you feel fuller, helping to prevent overeating. Water is also essential for removing toxins from the body, aiding concentration and boosting energy levels.
Shop with a list: You are more likely to keep weight off and stay healthier if you go shopping with a list, as you are far less likely to succumb to those special deals which are great for your purse or wallet, but not so good for the waist line.
- Beware of ‘fat-free’ or ‘low-fat’ labels: These foods usually contain more sugar or salt than their full-fat versions in order to make up losing the flavour from fat! Swap ‘bad’ fats found in processed foods (e.g. biscuits and crisps) with ‘good’ fats such as olive oil, nuts, seeds and oily fish. These heart healthy fats keep your bloods vessels in good condition and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Get active: Exercising can help to boost your metabolism – making it an easy and natural way to maintain a healthy weight! Try to incorporate more physical activity into your day by using the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop earlier or parking your car further away from your destination.
Get checked: A health screening is a good way to learn more about the status of your health so that you can tackle any issues and make positive lifestyle changes with the help of your GP. Life Line Screening offers a range of reliable, affordable and preventive health screening services including heart disease and type-2 diabetes risk assessments, carried out by a team of highly trained healthcare professionals. For more information visit: www.lifelinescreening.co.uk.
Tagged in Healthy Body Weight loss