Obesity Crisis

I’ve been doing some research today for a talk I’m giving in the New Year.

If the current rate of obesity doubles (1 in 4 to 1 in 2) in the UK then the cost to the economy including the NHS will be £50 billion a year. Already 1/3 of ten year olds are overweight to the point it is affecting their health (diabetes type 2, asthma, low esteem with depression etc) and longterm their lives will be curtailed by obesity and the associated risks such as heart disease.  It saddens me.  It’s easy to point fingers but it’s not a simple equation.

Factors include:

• schools have had to cut break (recess) time down.  As a  child I grew up with 2 x 15-minute breaks per day and a 1 hour lunchtime – we got to move a lot with big playing fields and often had wet breaks which were either outside or in the sports hall.  As much as I hated PE we got it several times a week – again more movement and our school campuses involved a 10 minute walk between lessons (I moaned at the time as it felt longer but it wasn’t too bad and did get us moving and for PE although overall organised sports were not for me I sincerely wish there had been more options).  We also got to walk to school.   Many high schools (senior) get 1 x 15 minute break and a half hour lunch – not a lot of time even to eat properly let alone play and move.  There are a number of after or before school clubs but often these are aimed at those who are good at sports and for many children it would be nice to see more activities in the school day that allow for natural and playful movement.
• The vitamin D equation (low sunlight = lower metabolic processes = hibernation mode for the body = obesity).
• Sugar is so easily available – it’s added to processed foods and despite campaigns to curb its availability we have a generation of sweet toothed children whose normal is sweet treats for school work and cinema visits etc.
• Post rationing behaviour.  It’s normal to give it as a reward in many areas of life  I understand where the history comes from – the generation who were children during and post-world war 2 are really into sugar as a reward because of rationing and often will use manipulative and guilt language to coerce newer generations into having it (well it didn’t do me any harm etc even though they are on diabetic medication etc).
• low breastfeeding rates (UK is around 1% who get to 6 months which is worrying given that the scientific data on it is very clear and even the most scientific people will ignore this and protect their formula stance which I often find baffling).

Again this is not about a simple blame and shame but it is interesting how behaviour around food can lead to epidemics of health issues.

Elizabeth Plant is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and massage therapist.  She offers over the phone/via Skype health coaching services.  For more information see her website.