Two thirds of UK adults are now considered overweight or obese. This means that they are at least two to three stone overweight and putting their health at serious risk.
Obesity is not just a problem that affects adults. At least a tenth of six-year-olds and almost a fifth of 15-year-olds are now clinically obese. Childhood obesity should not be dismissed as 'puppy fat' - it is a strong indication that the child will be obese as an adult and is likely to lead to serious health risks in later life.
Being a little bit overweight tends not to cause too many noticeable problems, but once you are carrying a few extra stones, symptoms will affect your daily life. The immediate symptoms of obesity include:
- Breathlessness
- Sweating a lot
- Snoring
- Difficulty sleeping
- Inability to cope with sudden physical activity
- Feeling very tired every day
- Back and joint pains
In the longer term, obesity greatly increases your risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease and stroke
- High cholesterol levels (fatty deposits blocking up your arteries)
- Breast cancer in women
- Gall bladder disease
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (when acid from the stomach flows up into the gullet) and associated problems
- Arthritis of the back, hips, knees and ankles
- Diabetes, and difficulty controlling existing diabetes
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS - multiple cysts within the ovaries)
- Reduced life expectancy
In addition to the immediate and short-term problems of obesity, many people may also experience psychological problems, such as low self-esteem and low confidence, and having reduced mobility which can lead to a poor quality of life.