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- The UK has the fastest growing rate of obesity in the developed world.
- More than half of adults in the UK are overweight and around 1 in 5 are obese.
- 24% of British children aged 2–15 are now obese That's nearly a quarter of our child population and it's growing.
- Obese people are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem.
- Obese people are twice as likely to die from heart disease.
- Obese men are 33% more likely to die from cancer.
- Obese women are 50% more at risk of dying from breast cancer.
So Channel 4 has decided to try something radical...
Eight seriously obese people have been given an extraordinary chance to lose weight, get fit and change their lives in a marathon 500-mile walk from the south coast of England to Edinburgh.
The four men and four women are aged between 20 and 44 and come from across the country. Their weights of up to 32 stones are not only making them unhappy, but also putting their lives at risk.
They have a range of reasons for taking part: Gary's doctor told him that if he didn’t lose weight he risked not being around to see his kids grow up; Stacey wants to be an airhostess, but can't even fit in airline seats; while Jack hopes that losing weight will give him the confidence to stop hiding himself away and get life a lad his age should have, going to clubs and having girlfriends.
But it's going to be a huge lifestyle change for the walkers, who are more used to comfort-eating on their sofas than hiking in all weathers. And despite help and advice from experts at the start, it's down to them to find the physical and emotional strength to complete this amazing challenge.
The eight-week trip will be an incredible journey for all of the participants. Not only do they face up to twelve hours of walking a day, but they will also need to stick to a new eating plan. And on top of that, they'll have to get along with, and support, their fellow walkers as they share tents camping along the way.
Eight seriously obese people have been given an extraordinary chance to lose weight, get fit and change their lives in a marathon 500-mile walk from the south coast of England to Edinburgh.
The four men and four women are aged between 20 and 44 and come from across the country. Their weights of up to 32 stones are not only making them unhappy, but also putting their lives at risk.
They have a range of reasons for taking part: Gary's doctor told him that if he didn’t lose weight he risked not being around to see his kids grow up; Stacey wants to be an airhostess, but can't even fit in airline seats; while Jack hopes that losing weight will give him the confidence to stop hiding himself away and get life a lad his age should have, going to clubs and having girlfriends.
But it's going to be a huge lifestyle change for the walkers, who are more used to comfort-eating on their sofas than hiking in all weathers. And despite help and advice from experts at the start, it's down to them to find the physical and emotional strength to complete this amazing challenge.
The eight-week trip will be an incredible journey for all of the participants. Not only do they face up to twelve hours of walking a day, but they will also need to stick to a new eating plan. And on top of that, they'll have to get along with, and support, their fellow walkers as they share tents camping along the way.
