Measure up for National Obesity Awareness Week
As part of National Obesity Awareness Week (12-18 January) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking people to measure up to see if they may be inching towards bad health.
More than three-fifths (61%) of adults in Northern Ireland are overweight or obese, and having a waistline of 37 inches or more for a man and 32 inches or more for a woman can put you at greater risk of developing heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Dr Tracy Owen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the PHA, said: “We want people to think about whether they are inching towards poor health and to take positive action to address it if they are.
“Making small changes to your lifestyle can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing. Simple things like thinking about what you’re buying in the supermarket and swapping fatty foods for something a bit healthier can make a real difference to your health.
“Opting for smaller portions is also a realistic practical change you can make, and combining these better eating habits and increasing your levels of physical activity are great ways to better manage your weight.”
Building physical activity into our daily routines is something that can be done to help us manage our weight. Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise. It doesn’t cost you anything and has many health benefits. Walking at a brisk pace can make you feel good, reduce anxiety, help you sleep better, reduce blood pressure and help you manage your weight.
It doesn’t have to be complicated either – just build it in to everyday activities such as walking to the shops or work instead of driving.
For more tips on portion sizes, healthier eating and getting active, visit www.choosetolivebetter.com
Also, check out the PHA’s updated Choose to Live Better booklet on watching your waistline, which now includes a pull-out section for a weekly meal planner and shopping list, as well as food and physical activity diaries – www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/your-waistline-creeping-you
- Obesity is usually measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a ratio of a person’s height and weight. In adults, having a BMI of 25-30 is classified as being overweight and having a BMI of 30 or more is classified as obese. Waist measurement is a simple alternative measure which everyone can use to identify if they may be at increased risk of obesity-related health problems. A waist size of 37 inches or more in men, and 32 inches or more in women, puts you at increased risk of heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity occurs when an individual takes in more energy through food and drink than they use up through natural bodily processes and physical activity.
- Evidence shows that obesity increases the risk of Northern Ireland’s biggest killers coronary heart disease and cancer .It increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and can impact on emotional/psychological wellbeing and self-esteem.
- Info from the NI Health Survey 2013/14 shows that 61% of adults in Northern Ireland are overweight (37%) or obese (24%). 68% of males are overweight or obese and 56% of females are overweight or obese.
- The recommended guidelines on physical activity are that adults should aim to be active every day and achieve at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity over a week. One way of achieving this is getting 30 minutes of activity at least five times per week.
- Just over half of respondents to the NI Health Survey 2013/14 aged 19 and over (53%) met these recommendations, 60% of males and 47% of females, while overall 28% of respondents were inactive.
- Sedentary behaviour occurs when sitting or lying down is the main mode of posture and where energy expenditure is low.
- Over two-fifths (44%) of respondents to the NI Health Survey 2013/14 aged 19 and over reported being sedentary for over four hours per day on weekdays, while over half (54%) being sedentary for over four hours on weekend days.