Obesity is defined by WHO (World Health Organization) as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health” – basically being overweight to the point where it becomes a risk to your health. A common way medical professionals identify
obesity is BMI (Body Mass Index). This measures whether you are a healthy weight for your height (you can test yourself. In recent years, however, there has been some hesitation over using BMI as anything more than a guide due to the simplicity of the BMI
test versus the complexities of the human body. For example, muscular people tend to be heavier, as muscle is heavier than fat, so they may have a high BMI without the excess fat. An alternative to this test is waist circumference, as “men with a waist
circumference of 94cm (37in) or more and women with a waist circumference of 80cm (about 31.5in) or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.”
A range of factors can contribute to being overweight or obese.
● Taking in more energy through food than is used by the body
● Lack of physical activity
● A sedentary lifestyle that includes a large amount of sitting during the day, even if
an individual is physically active.
Other factors that can contribute include:
● Genetic factors such as parental overweight or obesity
● Birth factors such as maternal smoking and poor nutrition
● Socioeconomic factors such as having lower levels of education and income.
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy eating plan can help manage the risk of being overweight or obese. HRI has plenty of heart-healthy recipes for inspiration, as well as advice on nutrition and tips for leading a healthy lifestyle. If focusing on specific weight loss interventions, this should be done with professional support which takes into account an individual’s mental health and wellbeing and not just their physical weight. Evidence suggests that weight loss programmes which are professionally administered do not lead to increased risk of eating disorders, but unhealthy dieting practices can increase the risk of developing eating disorders by up to
18 times. This is why organizations such as Beat recommend a collaborative approach between the obesity reduction sector and those working in eating disorder support.