Obesity: is it really an epidemic?

Every day we are bombarded with newspaper stories on obesity and how bad this is for our nation. Stories about our children dying before their parents with obesity-related diseases make your hair stick on the back of your neck. Unfortunately the concept of obesity is not always understood. Obesity is defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater then 24.9. To make it more understandable we need some mathematical calculations:

• Take your height in meters, e.g. 1.70 equal to approximately 5ft 7”, i.e. 2.54cm = 1 inch; 0.3048 = 1 foot
• Then convert your weight into kg, e.g. 63kg equal to approximately 10 stones, i.e. 450gr (0.450 kg) to 1 pound; 6.35 kg to 1 stone
• Take your height in meters, e.g. 1.70, and square it, i.e. 1.70 X 1.70 = 2.89
• Now finally take your weight and divide it by the square of your height, i.e. 63kg/2.89 = 21.8. This is your BMI

Now compare it with the classes of weight:

Underweight = less then 18.5
Normal = 18.5-24.9
Pre-obese = 25-29.9
Obese class 1 (moderate) = 30-34.9
Obese class 2 (severe) = 35-39.9

If you scored above 25, do not despair, a healthy and balanced diet could do miracles even for the big sizes. Do not say to yourself “I cannot do it!”, you can, anyone can, you just need the will to do it. And another thing: do it for yourself!

We do live in a society where obesity is becoming an epidemic, but strangely enough we eat fewer calories and fat then our grandparents did, and the calories are still falling. Why is then obesity rising? Well a simple answer is that we exercise less then 20 years ago and we eat more “calorie dense foods” then 20 years ago, although with fewer calories. Our body needs home made food and what we are actually giving to him its fast foods and snacks. Why don’t we start from today? After you read this go shopping and by some fresh vegetables and some chicken or some salmon. Go home relax and enjoy cooking, you will see how distressing this is. The smell of freshly cooked food coming out of your windows will be the envy of all your neighbours.

Don’t forget: “Start with little achievements to get to the big ones!”