Women Matter April-May 2014 | Page 7

PUT THE DONUT DOWN! By Mahri Carmichael Many obese women find they can’t have children. Those women who do manage to conceive put themselves and the baby at risk. NHS encourages women to reach a healthy weight before trying to conceive. By reaching a healthy weight they have more chance of conceiving naturally and reduce the risks associated with being overweight during pregnancy. Obesity rates within the UK rocket skyhigh over the past 30 The causes of obesity differ with person. Some causes are medial related such as polycystic ovary syndrome. years. However, the highest cause of obesity is when a person intakes more calories than they burn off. The unused calories then turn into fat on the body. Modern lifestyle Obesity within the doesn’t help. Access to high energy, fatty foods is easier UK has become a huge concern that is and cheaper than fresh produce and healthier foods. The lifestyle of an average person is less active than it worsening every used to be. Things used in leisure such as watching TV, year. It is a concern that is often swept under the playing video games and browsing the internet are carpets. The rates of obesity in men and women in usually done sitting down. England have doubled since 1980. There isn’t enough coverage within the media on the issue of obesity. Obesity is an eating disorder. It is defined by the NHS as “a term used to describe somebody who is very overweight with a high degree of body fat.” In the past people used to walk or cycle more, nowadays people either drive or take public transport. This meaning that some people can go weeks without any form of exercise. A few tips to tackle obesity: Throughout the years women have went through phases of what’s “sexy”. It goes from being “thin”, to “curvy”. In today’s society people are more accepting of a woman that carries a little extra body fat but some women use this as an excuse to allow themselves to get into an unhealthy state and avoid acceptance of their overeating. In England, 32% of women are overweight and an additional 21% of women are obese. This increases with age. 27% of women between the age of 16 and 24 are overweight or obese and 68% of women aged between 55 and 64 are in the same category. In Scotland between 1995 and 2012 the percentage of the population who were overweight or obese increased from 52.4% to 61.9%. With obesity come a number of illnesses that affect the individuals’ lifestyle; heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and increases the risk of having a stroke. The health problems associated with being overweight and obese costs the NHS more than £5billion a year. 1. Prevent further weight gain by avoiding overeating of large meals and foods that contain high fat and sugar contents. 2. Exercise regularly and follow a calorie-controlled diet in order to gradually lose weight. A simple thing such as taking a 30 minute walk a day has proven to help lose weight and sustain a healthy life. 3. Avoid regaining any lost weight. It’s hard to lose weight, but easy to gain it. 4. Improving general health in order to avoid any risks or complications related to being overweight or obese.