Health Weight management
Q&A
Losing weight is a popular goal at this time of year. Our Careway pharmacist Samantha Preston answers common questions on the subject
If you’re overweight, how can losing
weight benefit you? The benefits are many. If you’re overweight or obese, you have an increased risk of several medical conditions. By losing weight you may help reduce your risk of the following:
• Type 2 diabetes • Heart disease • High blood pressure • Certain types of cancer • Stroke • Liver problems • Back pain • Osteoarthritis • Infertility • Depression
According to the NHS you can get health benefits from losing even a small amount (about five percent) of your weight if you keep it off.
What’s the best way to measure how
healthy your weight is? Currently the most popular method is to measure your body mass index (BMI), which works out whether you’re a healthy weight for your height.
• Ideal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 for most adults.
• If your BMI is less than 18.5, you’re in the underweight range.
• If it’s between 25 and 29.9, you’re in the overweight range.
• If it’s 30 or higher, you’re in the obese range. 22 All About health
To work out your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared, then divide the answer by your height again. Alternatively, use the BMI Health Weight calculator at
www.careway.co.uk/health- zone/weight-loss. Your waist measurement is also a good
indication of how much abdominal fat you’re carrying – this is the type of fat that has been linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. Just measure your waist, which is midway
between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips. If it’s 94cm (37in) or higher and you’re a man, you should try to lose weight. If you’re a woman, you should try to lose weight if your waist measurement is 80cm (31.5in) or higher.
What’s the best way to lose weight –
quickly or slowly? It may be tempting to try a diet that offers quick results. But these diets are usually drastic, which means they can be difficult to sustain, and you may eventually relapse and go back to your old eating habits. This is why some people who try quick-fix diets end up gaining back the weight they lost and putting on even more. The best way to lose weight is gradually by
making smaller, more achievable changes to what you eat and the way you eat. It may feel as if you’re hardly losing weight at all, but shedding pounds slowly can help your body adjust naturally. And that way, you’ll be far more likely to change your eating habits in the long term, rather than just for a few difficult weeks. Diet alone isn’t the answer, however. If you are
serious about losing weight – and keeping it off – it’s important to be more active too. Exercise will also make you feel better, as well as look better.
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