Keeping healthy. We are all told by teachers, friends and family that keeping healthy is important. The Health Survey for England 2017 estimated that 28.7% of adults in England are obese and a further 35.6% are overweight.
Firstly, what is obesity? Traditionally, a person is considered to be obese if they weigh more than 20% of their ideal body weight. The National Institutes of Health state that obesity can be precisely defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or above.
Being obese can have many dangerous health effects such as: sleep apnoea and breathing problems, diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, liver and kidney diseases, problems during pregnancy and certain types of cancer.
Measuring your BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist size can help you understand your risk. BMI uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. The BMI divides the person’s weight by their height, and is measured in kg/m2. However, BMI usually is applied to adult men and women.
Exercising regularly can aid you to lose weight. Also, it can help reduce the risk of obesity and other dangerous health effects. Try to be active for about 30 minutes to an hour a day – any amount of exercise is better than none.
Furthermore, consuming less processed and sugary foods and consuming more fruit and vegetables. Many processed foods are high in salt, fat and sugar, which can contribute to fat build-up. The daily recommendation for fruit and veg is 5-10 servings a day. Consuming more fruit and veg can reduce the number of calories you are consuming and fill you up better!
By Gursiman Ghataura
