Obesity is becoming a weighty issue!

Obesity – If current trends continue, it is estimated that at least one third of UK adults will be classed as obese by the year 2020.

With obesity, it is estimated that a fifth of boys and a third of girls will be obese and suffer from obesity. This is not just a problem that applies to the UK – people all over the world are getting fatter and becoming obese. In fact The World Health Organisation predicts there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world by 2015 and over 700 million of them will be obese.

The latest figures from the WHO for 2005 record 1.6 billion adults as overweight and 400 million obese.

Obesity

Obesity is a modern problem – statistics for it did not even exist 50 years ago.

The increase of convenience foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and more sedentary jobs means people are getting fatter and obese.

Governments, health chiefs, schools and doctors are all trying to alleviate this problem by teaching us all about healthier eating to combat obesity. Such initiatives like eating ‘five-a-day’ fruit and vegetables are battling for our attention at the same time as junk food and the convenience of take-away’s.

Similarly slimming clubs go from strength to strength as women in particular sign up to lose weight and get a new image away from obesity.

However if a slimming club isn’t for you, then why not have a word with your local pharmacist who can supply guidance and also various over-the-counter weight loss management, dietary products and slimming supplements. Often herbal remedies are used to aid weight loss and obesity but can only help slimming as part of a calorie controlled diet.

Always very popular as part of a weight loss programme are milkshakes, meal replacement bars and soups which are low in calories and a good way to combat obesity.

Before you buy any weight loss products, talk to your pharmacist if you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking any prescribed drugs. Always remember your pharmacist has a wealth of knowledge and is there to help with your questions.