Tackling Obesity
Key Facts
- Overweight and obesity increase the risk of the biggest killer diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
- The prevalence of obesity has trebled since the 1980s and well over half of all adults are either overweight or obese
- If the number of obese children continues to rise, children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents
- Burning off the calories in a fast food chain’s cheeseburger, fries and a shake equates to a nine mile walk
- The cost of obesity plus overweight is estimated to cost up to £7.4 billion per year.
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity in reception year pupils in Wolverhampton in 2006 was 21%, rising to 34% of year 6 pupils.
Key Messages
- There are no quick fixes to successful weight loss.
- Set realistic weight targets.
- Aim for 1-2lbs or 0.5 -1kg loss per week.
- Aim for a waist measurement of less than 94cm/37in (men) or less than 80cm/32 in (women).
- Adopt a healthy eating plan for life rather than a ‘diet’ for a period of time.
- Set yourself small goals that you can achieve and maintain, rather than trying to change everything at once.
- There are no good and bad foods – only good and bad eating habits.
- Do not miss out on meals. Aim to have breakfast, a light meal and a main meal each day.
- Weigh yourself once a week only, on the same scales, at the same time of day and wearing the same type of clothing.
- Losing weight is a commitment to yourself. Plan rewards for achieving small targets. Find support from family or friends to help you achieve your goal.
By eating healthily (see the healthy eating section of this site) and having an active lifestyle you can maintain a healthy weight.
There are also a number of clinics and programmes within the City to support children, teenagers and adults who wish to lose weight - see the left menu to find out more.
