Maintain a healthy weight and prevent weight gain
- The number of people in Uk classified as obese has nearly doubled over the last 20 years and continues to increase
- The cost to society and the economy is estimated around £16 billion but could rise to nearly £50 billion in 2050
- Being more active and following a healthier diet is important for everyone, not only if you are overweight or obese.
A new guideline to help adults and children maintain a healthy weight and prevent weight gain.
Obesity is directly linked to:
- type 2 diabetes,
- fatty liver disease,
- cancer,
- high blood pressure,
- heart disease,
- stroke,
- arthritis and
10% of the NHS budget is used to treat diabetes and its complications alone.
The guideline identifies the changes individuals and families can make to help them to stay at a healthy weight or prevent further weight gain if they are already overweight.
It emphasises that any improvements, however small, to physical activity or dietary habits are likely to help. Even so, no single factor such as a specific physical activity, food or drink, is sufficient to avoid gaining too much weight. …more