Healthy weight
Overweight and obesity are terms that refer to excess body fat which is calculated by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Overweight and obesity are significant health issues for adults across the life course and into old age. Carrying excess weight can have significant implications for an individual’s physical and mental health. There isn’t a single intervention that can tackle obesity on its own, at population or at an individual level. There are many interacting causes of obesity including biological; physiological; psychosocial; behavioural; and environmental factors.
Our environment tends to encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices relating to food and physical activity. Unhealthy food and drink choices (including alcohol) are easy to access and often high energy. We also tend to be less active and lead more sedentary lifestyles than previous generations.
Being overweight or obese is linked to a wide range of diseases, most commonly: type 2 diabetes; hypertension; some cancers; heart disease; stroke; and liver disease. Obesity can also be associated with poor psychological and emotional health, and poor sleep. Obese adults may also be more likely to suffer from stigma which may impact on their self-esteem.
Individuals who could benefit from losing weight may take time to find the right solution for them; like quitting smoking, achieving and maintaining a healthier weight sometimes takes multiple attempts to find the way that works best for the individual and there isn’t a single solution that works for everyone. A healthier weight is primarily achieved and maintained through improving dietary intake, portion control and being more physically active.
Further useful links
- Carrots and sticks: can governements do without public health regulation? - from the Social Market Foundation. A set of briefings exploring tobacco, alcohol and gambling policy, comparing different types of policy approach. It concludes more 'interventionist' measures, such as strict regulations on availablity and taxes, tend to be more effective.
- Public Health England (2019) Guidance: Adult obesity: applying All Our Health
- The Bolton picture
Note: Child and adult weight status cannot be directly compared as they are calculated and measured in different ways. - All NICE products on diet, nutrition and obesity
- Public Health England National Child Measurement Programme and child obesity profile
- Scale of the challenge: Obesity and the labour market - report from IPPR suggesting a correlation between obesity and economic inactivity, as well as obesity affecting the productivity and wellbeing of people who are in work. To address this they propose a whole society approach.