Healthy Weight
Britain is in the grip of an epidemic. Almost two-thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese and without clear action, these figures could rise to almost nine in ten adults and two-thirds of children by 2050.
This matters because of the severe impact that being overweight or obese can have on an individual’s health leading to an increasing risk of diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease among others –with risks increasing the more overweight people become.
In Coventry, childhood Obesity is above the national average with just over 10% of children in reception and 19% in Year 6 obese.
There is also growing concern that children who live in more deprived neighbourhoods have higher rates of obesity. It is estimated that nearly 26% of adults in Coventry are obese.
At the core of the problem is an imbalance between ‘energy in’ – what is consumed through eating – and ‘energy out’ – what is used by the body, including energy used through physical activity.
Physical activity levels in Coventry are considerably less than recommended for both adults and children. Children should do one hour of moderate intensity exercise every day; a local report shows that at most only 50% do. For adults, estimation indicates that 80% of the population do not achieve the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5 times per week.
In Coventry, children and adults consume too few portions of fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Local Coventry surveys show that approximately 70% of 11 to 16 year olds do not eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and 73% of adults eat less than the target amount.
If action isn't taken to tackle obesity, the growth in Obesity that has been witnessed over the past 30 to 40 years will continue.
Contact the Healthy Weight Team on tel: 024 7683 2071 or by email: healthyweight@coventrypct.nhs.uk
- Obesity
Obesity is when a person is carrying too much body fat for their height and sex. A person is considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is a measurement of your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. Obesity can happen when you eat more calories than you burn off over a period of time.