Did you know that obesity is classed as a public health issue? In 2015, nearly two-thirds of adults were classed as being overweight (a body mass index BMI of over 25) or obese (a BMI of over 30) in England.
This is caused by consuming more calories than you burn off through exercise and therefore the excess energy is stored as body fat. In a world where we are often found sitting down whether it be at a desk, in the car or sat on the sofa, obesity is becoming a rising problem.
An obesity debate was recently sparked courtesy of UK-based fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing posting an Instagram photo of two plus-sized’ girls wearing bikinis. Many people criticised the photo for using overweight models whilst others praised the models for confidently showing off their natural beauty no matter what their size or shape is. This begs the question; should obesity be presented in a positive light?
According to a report published by the NHS this year, obesity was a factor in 617,000 hospital admissions with 26% of adults being classified as obese in the UK. Unfortunately, obesity can lead to a variety of serious health problems which can potentially be life-threatening. This includes Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and even some types of cancer; obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK with more than 1 in 20 cancer cases being caused by excess weight. Not only can obesity cause physical illnesses, it can also lead to mental health issues such as depression due to low self-esteem.
There are many ways to treat obesity such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly; however, if lifestyle changes alone don’t help you lose weight, it may be worth looking into bariatric surgery.
Pall Mall Bariatrics can help you take control of your weight. As specialists in bariatric surgery, our team have been managing weight loss in obese patients for over 15 years and can help solve weight loss and gastric-band related problems. Our world-class surgeons have performed over 7500 procedures without a single return to theatre.
