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OBESITY

When a person carries too much body fat for their height and sex, ie, their body mass index (BMI) is ≥30. Storing excess fat harms health; centrally stored (visceral) fat is most harmful, and is most readily assessed by measuring waist circumference.

NICE CG43 Obesity: the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adult and children; 2006 (updated 2015)  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG43

 

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of:

  • Hypertension
  • Dyslipidaemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sleep apnoea and respiratory problems
  • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

Obesity and its complications, in adults and children, are a major public health problem, putting strain on NHS resources. If current trends continue, by 2050 60% of males and 50% of females could be obese.

 

Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England 2021 https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet

National Obesity Forum www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk - free professional membership, guidelines, protocols, training resources

Association of UK Dietitians (BDA) Obesity specialist group https://www.bda.uk.com/specialist-groups-and-branches/obesity-specialist-group.html

MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do It!) Social enterprise programmes for tackling obesity in children and families https://healthyweightpartnership.org

Practice Nurse featured article

Obesity for general practice nurses Dr Gerry Morrow 

Practice Nurse Curriculum Module 

Lifestyle modificaction 

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