Weight implications:

Did you know that

Almost half (48%) of Irish men and 57% of Irish women will be obese by 2030
54% of parents of overweight children and 20% of parents of obese children report that they are ‘about the right’ weight for their height (Growing up in Ireland study)
It is as difficult for someone who is obese to lose weight as it is for someone who is looking to lose a few pounds after Christmas.
The Growing Up In Ireland Study showed that almost 20pc of nine-year-olds were overweight in 2011 and a further seven per cent being obese.
This may be the first generation of children who may live less long than their parents as a result of the consequences of overweight and type 2 diabetes
Irish people watch on average three and a half hours of television per day – Sunday is the day with the highest number of hours watching television and binge eating.

How do I know if I am overweight?

The easiest way to find out if you are overweight.is to calculate your body mass index. You need to measure your weight in kilogrammes and your height in metres. You use this formula to work you it

BMI = Weight/ Height x Height

Calculate your BMI

Normal BMI is less than 25,

Being overweight is 25-29.9 and

Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or greater.

What does being overweight or obese mean to my body?

Unfortunately the excess adipose (fatty) tissue puts pressure on our processes that produce your energy. It increases your blood pressure and causes our cholesterol pattern to deteriorate. It also affects our ability to deal with glucose and which is the main sugar we use to fuel the cells. This can contribute to you developing diabetes. All of these factors lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Psychologically it can lead to low self- esteem and poor self- confidence.

What can I do?

There is a common misconception that it is easy to lose weight. It is all about input (what you eat and drink) and output (how much activity you do). To lose one pound you need to create a deficit of 3500kilocalories. That is 500kcal per day over a week. The easiest way is to reduce your intake. You can burn calories by exercising. A 155lb person walking at 3.5mph for 30 minutes burns 120 kilocalories.