Without food, the human race would become extinct, naturally. But some humans have a troubled relationship with it. Some eat too little, some too much.

The consumption of too many calories without the balance of exercise can lead to obesity. The term obese describes a person who is very overweight, with a lot of body fat.

Unaddressed, it can lead to severe physical and mental illnesses. But with the correct and expert nutritional, therapeutic and physical sustainable treatment, obesity can be reversed and clients educated about food and diet.

WHAT EXACTLY IS OBESITY?

As a general rule, for most adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means you're a healthy weight,

25 to 29.9 means you're overweight, 30 to 39.9 means you're obese and 40 or above means you're severely obese.

Obesity is a common problem worldwide and it is estimated to affect around 1 in every 4 adults and around 1 in every 5 children aged 10 to 11.

It is vital to take steps to tackle obesity because, alongside clear physical changes, it can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers in the breast and bowel among others and strokes. But it can also have powerful effects on mental wellbeing, causing low self-esteem, worthlessness and depression. With advances in technology, many are living a more sedentary lifestyle and this, alongside modern trends of cheap high-calorie food, has led to a marked increase in obesity cases. This was highlighted during the pandemic where higher COVID death rates were linked to those nations with greater incidences of obesity. Many who are obese lose their mobility and independence, becoming more, somewhat totally, reliant on others.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR:

Feelings of isolation

Low self-esteem and a lack of confidence

Breathlessness

Tiredness

An increase in sweating

Snoring

An inability to take part in physical activity

Back and joint pain

A BMI of over 40

Physical restrictions