The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity as defined as simply a condition of abnormal or excess body fat, to the extent that health may be impaired. According to Health Survey England (England, 2017)Obesity is estimated to be the fourth-largest risk factor toward death siting behind hypertension, smoking, and high cholesterol. Obesity, however, is not classified by someone’s weight; Body Mass Index (BMI) classifies obesity. The World Health Organisation use Body Mass Index (BMI) to classify what category people fall into for their weight and height.

The formula to work out BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared (kg/m2). According to the World Health Organisation guidelines, people with a BMI of 25 -29.9 would be classed as pre obese or overweight and anyone with a BMI of 30-39.9 would be classified as obese or clinically obese. People with a BMI of 40 or more would be considered morbidly obese and this category to be associated with disease and disability.

In 2015 58% of women and 68% of men were overweight or obese, which has continued to rise over the years.

What is also concerning is that in 2015 the National Child Measurement Program for 2014/2015 showed one in five children in reception is overweight or obese and one in three children in year 6 is overweight or obese.

If we break this down into only the obese children it was shown around one in ten children in reception is obese and around one in five children in year 6 is classed as obese.

These are some scary statistics and show the obesity epidemic is getting worse and not just affecting adults. We must now start taking obesity more seriously and start looking at not only the consequences of obesity but now start finding solutions to the causes before it is too late and we become obese and cecum to the illnesses related to obesity.