National Obesity Week

Reseach has revealed that nearly half of adults have an inaccurate notion of their personal weight, believing that they are "about right" when in fact they are overweight or obese.

The average UK woman is 5ft 4” and if she weighs over 10 stone 7lbs she is clinically overweight; for men, the average height is 5ft 10” and if he weighs more than 12 stone 7lbs he is clinically overweight. Both would have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.2.

During National Obesity Week (NOW!) pharmacies nation-wide are offering a weighing and measuring service with  supporting leaflets to raise awareness of  "Do You Have a Healthy BMI: Body Mass Index?"

The campaign encourages people to try to achieve a healthy weight by eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but low in sugar, salt and fat and by being physically active.

• Additional research among chidlren carried out for NOW! shows that the next generation sees obesity as being normal.
• Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Obese men and women are almost one and a half times more likely to have a stroke.
• Keeping a healthy body weight is one of the most important things that people can do to reduce their risk of cancer.
• It is estimated that two thirds of heart attacks are linked to abdominal obesity.