Are we training our children to be obese?

The Scottish Government has recently published research showing how much fatter we are becoming in Scotland. The latest figures are for 2003, comparing them with 1995.

In 2003 almost two-thirds of men (64%) and more than half of women (57%) were overweight. In 1995 57% of men and 47% of women were overweight. That is an increase of 12% for men and over 20% for women in less than 10 years.

Worse news is that the trend for obesity is increasing even faster. In 1995 16% of men and 17% of women were obese. This had increased to 21% of men and 24% of women in those 8 years. That is a staggering 30-40% - in just 8 years!

Let's just look at those figures again. 1 in 5 men is obese. 1 in 4 women is obese. And the trend is upwards. 2 in 3 men are overweight. Nearly 2 in 3 women who are overweight. That means that the large majority of Scottish people are overweight. And the trend is upwards. Rapidly upwards.

Now most people don't want to be obese, with all the social stigma, illness and physical difficulties it causes. So somehow it must be just too easy to put on those extra pounds. This blog will try to show you how some of this is happening (and it is just too easy to put on weight) and what you can do without having to follow a restricted diet.

What is more worrying, is that we seem to be passing this problem onto our children. Over 30% of our children are outside the healthy weight range. Here are some things you can do now to assist your children to avoid obesity in adulthood.

1. Don't eat in front of the telly. This is an obesity risk factor.
2. Reduce the amount of time doing sedentary things (which most children prefer). Some children are spending 4 hours in front of the tv, computer or with their game consoles. This is an obesity risk factor. If you reduce the opportunity for sedentary activity, research shows that children will do something more active. It is not about offering a choice, but just removing the chance to sit and veg.
3. Fizzy pop should be a very rare special treat and not an everyday drink. Pop is implicated strongly in obesity.

If you are overweight, and the majority of Scots are, don't pass it on.

Adults are classed as overweight if their BMI is 25 or more, obese if their BMI is 30 or more and morbidly obese if their BMI is 40 or more. Check your BMI now.

If you are wanting to lose weight, and live near Glasgow, then contact me and see how hypnotherapy can help.

www.carolinebrowntherapy.com