a weighty issue

by Rachel Newcombe

It's easy to be complacent about weight and long-term health issues, especially when you're young, carefree and only living for tomorrow, but recent statistics provide a harsh wake-up call for teens and children.

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According to a report produced by the British Medical Association (BMA), the state of adolescent health in the UK is in a poor condition. A key problem is obesity, which is thought to be caused by a poor diet with too many high-fat, high-calorie foods, along with a lack of exercise. In fact, the report claims that excess body weight is 'now the most common childhood disorder in Europe,' and a staggering one in five youngsters aged 13 to 16 are overweight and nearly one in five 15-year-olds are obese.

The figures are worrying as being obese can cause both immediate and future serious health problems. These include the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It's also the 'most important dietary factor in cancer,' said a spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), and can cause complications during and after pregnancy.

Type 2 diabetes used to only affect middle-aged people, but in recent years cases have been detected in teens as young as 13-years-old for the first time. This, in itself, is believed to be another direct factor linked to the rising levels of obesity.

health implications

Neville Rigby, from the International Obesity Task Force, expressed concern at the levels of teen obesity. 'It's very worrying because of the high risk that people who are obese in their teenage years will continue to be in adulthood,' he said. Putting things into perspective, he added, 'Children affected by obesity are likely to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.'

As well as physical illness and disease, being obese or overweight can cause a range of psychological problems too. The BMA report highlighted that it can significantly affect well-being, 'with many adolescents developing a negative self image and experiencing low self-esteem.' It can also lead to eating diseases, bullying, depression, and feelings of loneliness and nervousness.

This is something that the charity Weight Concern is keen to emphasise. 'Obesity can have detrimental effects on children's psychological well-being,' said a spokesperson. 'Many overweight children report social difficulties, which in turn may contribute to anxiety and depression, and obese children are often subject to teasing and bullying. All this can have devastating effects on their self-esteem.'

weight distribution

Doctors use a measurement system called the body mass index (BMI) to assess whether people are a healthy weight, overweight or obese. It's worked out by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example, if I am 1.7 metres tall and weigh 68 kilos, my BMI would be 23.5 (68 divided by 1.7 x 1.7), which falls into the desirable or healthy range. According to the BMI chart, adults (over 18s) are overweight if they have a BMI of between 25 and 30, and they're obese if it's 30 or over.

Body Mass Index (BMI) guide for people aged 18 and over

BMI (kg/m2)
Less than 20	Underweight
Over 20 to 25	Desirable or healthy range
Over 25 to 30	Overweight
Over 30 to 35	Obese (class I)
Over 35 to 40	Obese (class II)
Over 40	Severely obese (class III)

A similar method is used for children, but instead it has a sliding scale linked to age. For an example chart, see the Weight Concern website listed in help and info below.

As well as BMI levels, the areas where the fat is deposited in the body is important, too, explained a spokesperson for the BNF. 'People who have extra fat around their middle, a body we call apple shaped, are at a greater risk of some diseases than those who have most of the extra weight around their hips and thighs, or are pear shaped.'

For those wanting to measure their waist circumference, increased risk for the over 18s occurs in men whose waist circumference is 94 cm/37 inches or over, and in women whose waists are 80 cm/32 inches or more. The risk is significantly increased at 102 cm/40 inches for men and 88 cm/35 inches for women.

prevention and treatment

When it comes to preventing and treating excess weight and obesity, experts believe a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial. The key to maintaining a good weight is to balance your energy intake and output, as weight is gained if you regularly eat more than you burn off.

Obese children may require a specially developed programme, said Weight Concern, which is likely to focus on healthy eating, exercise and social support. In the case of children, it's beneficial for the whole family to adopt healthier behaviours and it's important not to single out a child.

Likewise, the Royal College of Paediatrics suggests parents should be actively involved in helping children manage their weight, and says obesity problems should be dealt with slowly, by making gradual changes to eating habits and physical activity.

Losing weight can be tough, but although crash diets sometimes sound appealing, the Food Standards Agency stress that they don't work. Instead, their top tips for losing weight include eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, cutting down on sugary and fatty foods, opting for lower-fat versions of dairy products and increasing your intake of starchy foods.

Increasingly inactive lifestyles and couch-potato tendencies, for example watching television and playing computer games, are thought to be contributors to obesity, so being more active is very helpful. The minimum recommended level of activity is at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, five days a week. Moderate intensity means a state in which your breathing and heart rate are faster than normal.

Siobhan Weir, physical activity programme manager at the Health Protection Agency said, 'Getting people to take some moderate activity as opposed to being sedentary is likely to have the greatest beneficial effect on their health.'

A good form of exercise for those who have been leading fairly inactive lives – and one that's free – is walking, she says. 'Research shows that walking a mile briskly uses the same energy as running a mile and regular physical activity can reduce weight by as mush as one stone in three months. To really reap the benefits, aim to walk briskly so that you are feeling warmer and slightly out of breath.'

If walking isn't for you, there's a whole range of other activities available, from team sports such as football, hockey or basketball, classes such as aerobics or sessions at the gym, to alternatives such as martial arts, yoga or tai chi. The key is to find something you enjoy and stick to it.

It's easy to put off healthy eating habits and exercise, but the sooner we start, the better the outcome for our health. By starting at a young age, the chances are good habits will continue into the future too.

help and info

You might like to read our features on breaking the obesity cycle and how guys can lose weight too.

organisations

British Nutrition Foundation
52-54 High Holborn
London WC1V 6RQ
Tel: 020 7404 6504 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
E-mail: postbox@nutrition.org.uk
Website: www.nutrition.org.uk
Promotes the nutritional well-being of society. Website contains details about the BNF and nutritional information.

Weight Concern
Brook House
2-16 Torrington Place
London WC1E 7HN
Tel: 020 7679 6642
E-mail: enquiries@weightconcern.com
Website: www.weightconcern.com
Organisation dedicated to addressing the physical and psychological health needs of overweight people.

websites

British Dietetic Association Weight Wise Campaign
www.bdaweightwise.com/bda/
Lots of helpful information on losing weight, eating well and getting physical.

Childhood Obesity Fact Sheet
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/child_obesity.html
Helpful information about obesity in children – why it's a problem, why diet and exercise is important, and useful tips for encouraging healthier habits.

Five Ways to Start Losing Weight Today
www.ivillage.co.uk/dietandfitness/wtmngment/weightloss/articles/0,,233_187061,00.html
Simple steps to take that can help if you want to lose weight.

Healthy Eating on a Budget
www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/
healthy_living/student/budget/budget.html
Guide to healthy eating for those on a tight budget.

How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way
www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/loseweight.htm
Article looking at practical ways to lose weight.

Sport England Sports Gateway
http://archive.sportenglandpublications.org.uk/gateway/gateway_1.htm
Searchable database of over 6,000 sporting contacts and 4,000 sports clubs and facilities in the UK.

Walking the way to Health Initiative (WHI)
www.whi.org.uk
Organisation specialising in helping people get healthier by walking. Lots of tips for walks and reasons why walking is good.

Weight Concern – BMI calculator
www.weightconcern.org.uk
Follow the link to 'Children and Families' for free tools for checking adult and children's BMI levels.

reading

Healthy Eating for Kids by Anita Bean (A&C Black, 2004)
Meal ideas, recipes and healthy snack ideas for children.
Get this book

Kid-Power: A Simple Guide to a Lean, Healthy and Happy Child by Salvatore Tosto (Salvatore Tosto Jr, 2004)
Based on seven simple exercises and no calorie counting.
Get this book

365 Activities for Fitness, Food and Fun for the Whole Family by Julia Sweet (Contemporary Books, 2001)
Motivational advice on fun and physical wellbeing for the whole family.
Get this book

(January 2004, resources updated October 2005)