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| Is obesity in women a national risk? |
The short answer is yes, according to England’s chief medical officer, Sally Davies. In her annual report, Dame Sally has pointedly warned the health of future generations is in under threat because of obesity in women.
Why the female slant? According to Dame Sally, it’s because of the impact of obesity on fertility, life expectancy and miscarriage. The offspring of obese women have a higher risk of their own health issues – and perhaps even their children’s children. And then there’s the hypertension, women’s cancers and
dementia to consider.
The figures are startling. In 2013, 56.4% of women aged 34–44 and 62% of women aged 45–54 were classed as overweight or obese. ‘Being the first woman chief medical officer has played a part in my decision to focus this report on women’s health,’ says Dame Sally. She says women have the power to affect the health of future generations. ‘This is a difficult message to convey, as it risks burdening women with guilt and responsibility, but I believe that it can also empower women to take positive steps like eating more healthily and taking more exercise. It is never too late to take action for a healthier lifestyle.’
At Healthy Food Guide, we believe we can help with this hot topic. This January we’ll be giving you a helping hand to pursue a healthier lifestyle, as we launch our new Get Waisted campaign to focus on trimming the nation’s waistlines.
The latest expert consensus is that measuring your waist is a better indicator of wellbeing than BMI. Losing weight from your waist can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and type-2 diabetes. And the good news is this challenge isn’t just for women, so make sure you pick up a copy of January’s Healthy Food Guide to get started with beating the bulge.
Read more: Our top 10 tips to help you get to your goal weight
Read more: Try our diet planners
Read Dame Sally Davies’ full report