I am beginning to think we are becoming immune to images of obesity. We are no longer shocked to see very overweight people. It would appear that “fat” is the new black and everybody is wearing it!
Too many of us are failing to take responsibility for our ever increasing waist lines and are refusing to take action before it’s too late; harsh words? I don’t think so.

I have just returned from a two week holiday, in Majorca, in a resort popular with fellow British tourists. Looking around my countrymen, sunbathing and swimming in the Spanish sunshine, I felt something approaching despair to see so many overweight people. In fact, I would go so far as to say that those who are a healthy body weight are fast becoming the minority. I’m not referring to those who would probably like to lose a couple of lbs but the vast number of adults, I saw on the beaches, who are 2-3 stone, and considerably more, over their ideal body weight. Whilst my observations are simply casual, and in no way scientific, my overwhelming feeling was why are we becoming so “fat” as a nation and doesn’t anybody care?

Latest figures, released from the Office for National Statistics, reveal an alarming jump in levels of obesity with one in four British adults now considered obese, an increase from one in six in the mid nineties. So that’s a staggering quarter of all British adults classified as obese! This worrying trend has also been highlighted by the National Heart Forum, from an analysis of the Health Survey for England, which states “The number of normal weight individuals is inexorably falling, those overweight remaining broadly steady and those obese rising”. Referring to my opening statement I believe at least part of the problem lies in our perception. Similar to the phenomena know as “compassion fatigue”- where over exposure to harrowing images no longer elicits a sympathetic response – are we now experiencing “obesity fatigue” and failing to respond appropriately?

Again, this is hardly scientific, but when I was at school it was highly unusual for children to be overweight. It was so rare that the occasional overweight child would stick out like a sore thumb and be cruelly taunted for it. Now, I’m not suggesting for one minute that we all start shouting “fatty” at passing strangers, or subject overweight children to name calling and bullying, but I do think we need to be brutally honest with ourselves and those we love. We need to take a long hard look and acknowledge that we, as a nation, need to get a grip.

Obesity, excess body fat and being overweight are not simply aesthetic issues. Maintaining a healthy body weight is not about fitting into a certain size dress or a pair of skinny jeans. Carrying excess body fat is a health issue; it affects the quality and quantity of your life and ultimately is a matter of life and death. Being overweight carries numerous health risks including increasing the risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke to name a few. Being overweight is not just an individual concern, but a national issue threatening to overwhelm N.H.S. resources and has far reaching wider social consequences.

There are no easy solutions. Rising levels of national obesity need to be tackled through education, local and national Government, the N.H.S., the food industry, the fitness industry, schools and parents. If we don’t want today’s generation of children to be the first generation to die before their parents we need to act and act now, re-doubling our efforts to get the message across before it’s too late.

If your idea of a summer holiday is two weeks lazing on a beach, sipping sangria and eating ice-creams, fair enough! Just make sure the other fifty weeks of the year you are as active as possible, eat a healthy well balanced diet and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Tags: Diet, Obesity levels in the UK, weight management