Health Risks Of Being Obese

Across the United Kingdom, millions of people are clinically categorised as being obese.  Sadly, this has seen a wealth of individuals across the country experience the various health risks of being obese.

Obesity In The UK

Obesity in the UK has unfortunately soared in the last few years.  At present, across the United Kingdom, it is estimated that almost two-thirds of adults between the ages of 18 and 74 are obese.  When considering obesity and gender, research determines that 68.2% of men and 60.4% of women are obese.

Defined as a being “very overweight with a high percentage of body fat” by the NHS, obesity is a widespread problem that not only impairs the lives of millions of adults but children too.

How Is Obesity Determined?

Across the world, health professionals determine whether or not an individual is obese by evaluating their Body Mass Index.

Body Mass Index takes an individual’s height, weight and age into consideration, prior to determining the Body Mass Index result.

In the United Kingdom, anyone that has a Body Mass Index over 25 is considered to be obese.  Those with a Body Mass Index over 40 are thought to be very obese.

However, it should be noted that factors such as muscle mass are not considered when calculating an individual’s Body Mass Index.

In some situations, a bodybuilder, for example, could be categorised as being obese due to having a large volume of muscle mass.

Health Risks of Being Obese

Regrettably, obesity is one of the leading causes of a wealth of health risks.  Considering this, over the last few years, obesity has contributed to a rising number of individuals being admitted to hospital for treatment.

In 2019, the NHS reported that hospital admissions directly influenced by obesity had increased by 4%.  Furthermore, over three-quarters of a million people were admitted to hospital with obesity as a secondary diagnosis.

Taking into consideration that there has been a large increase in the number of individuals admitted to hospital where obesity was either a primary or secondary diagnosis, it should be noted that the number of people experiencing health risks of being obese has soared.

As determined by the NHS, the most prevalent health risks of being obese include arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, respiratory disease, risk of stroke and cancer.

While obesity increases an individual’s risk of developing the above conditions, this is not to say that every single individual that is categorised as being obese will find themselves at risk of encountering the health risks of being obese.

Although many of the health risks of being obese include physical illnesses, obesity can also limit an individual’s mobility and can additionally have disastrous consequences on an individual’s mental well-being.

In the United Kingdom, those struggling with obesity are 55% more likely to develop mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.  It should also be noted that individuals that are diagnosed with mental health disorders are more at risk of becoming obese.

Minimising The Health Risks Of Being Obese

Tackling obesity, contrary to belief, is not a quick fix.  It takes determination, dedication and perseverance. In some cases, individuals hoping to turn their lives around and reduce their risk of developing the health risks of being obese will require professional support.

If you are looking to minimise the health risks of being obese in yourself, there are various changes you can make in your day to day life in order to do so.

Below, we have outlined a number of solutions that will help you minimise the health risks of being obese.

Exercise

Although we all know that exercise will ultimately help us manage our weight and reduce the health risks of being obese, individuals that have already begun to experience the health risks of being obese will need to consult with their doctor prior to participating in any form of exercise.

While highly recommended and an essential part of minimising the health risks of being obese, your doctor may advise that you avoid certain forms of exercise if you are suffering from heart disease, liver disease, cancer, respiratory disease and high blood pressure.

If your doctor deems you fit for exercise, it is typically recommended that you participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.

If you are completing high intensity based workouts, 75 minutes is recommended.  Moderate exercise could include going for a daily walk, taking part in a fitness class, swimming or going to the gym.

Follow A Healthy Diet

When considering obesity and the process of gaining weight, many individuals will fail to recognise that the greater the number of calories consumed, the greater the chance of becoming overweight, especially if exercise is not regularly participated in.

Considering this, following a healthy diet and reducing your calorie intake will help you minimise the health risks of being obese.  You will also begin to notice small changes in your weight.

As a rule of the thumb, the NHS advises that individuals looking to reduce the risks of being obese should consumer either 1,900 calories per day (men) or 1,400 calories per day (women).

When considering your diet, we would highly recommend the following;

• Eat more significant volumes of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Incorporate foods containing protein (such as chicken and fish) and fibre into your diet
• Increase your water intake
• Decrease the amount of sugar in your diet
• Avoid takeaways and fast food
• Consider following a diet and nutrition plan

Always Consult with Your Doctor

If you are struggling with your weight and have begun to experience any signs and symptoms of feeling unwell, we would highly recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor.

Addressing the health risks of being obese may be somewhat daunting, but in doing so, you could essentially preserve your life.

Furthermore, as touched on above, we would highly advise seeking medical support prior to altering your lifestyle and taking part in any physical activity.

Sources

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/england-2020

https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/online-version/chapter-2-more-nhs-action-on-prevention-and-health-inequalities/obesity/

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/england-2020/part-1-obesity-related-hospital-admissions-copy

https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/online-version/chapter-2-more-nhs-action-on-prevention-and-health-inequalities/obesity/#:~:text=Obesity%20and%20poor%20diet%20are,2.13.

https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/the-relationship-between-mental-health-and-obesity#:~:text=The%20review%20found%20that%20people,health%20from%202014%20to%202015.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhs-weight-loss-plan/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: August 9, 2024

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.