DIET FOR FITNESS FREAKS
Channel: FITNESS AND HEALTH WORLD
Date: 22/01/2021

Eating a healthy balanced diet accompanied by regular exercise is essential in maintaining physical and mental health and well-being. Not only are these effective in preventing excess weight gain or in maintaining weight loss, but healthier lifestyles are also associated with improved sleep and mood. Physical activity particularly improves brain-related function and outcomes.1

Obesity levels remain worryingly high, with nearly 30% of the global population being overweight or obese. This figure is set to rise to almost half of the world’s adult population by 2030, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.2 The fundamental cause of excess weight and obesity is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Globally, the intake of energy-dense foods that are high in saturated fat, salt and sugar has increased. We also consume insufficient amounts of fruit, vegetables, dairy, whole grains and oily fish,3 which has an additive effect on the health impact of a poor diet. Our modes of work continue to remain sedentary and we work the longest hours compared to many other European countries.4 In the UK we spend more time sat on public transport, watching television and indoors.

Excess weight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCD) including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (particularly osteoarthritis) and some cancers.5 The risk for these NCD’s also rises with an increase in body mass index (BMI) and age. To summarise:

1. The UK has one of the highest levels of obesity in western Europe: 67% of men and 57% of women are either overweight or obese.

2. More than half of men and women are at an increased risk of multiple health problems caused by poor diet.

3. The level of childhood obesity is a huge concern. In the UK, one in 10 children are obese when they start school. By the time they leave primary school, nearly 20% of children are obese with a 75-80% risk of obese adolescents becoming obese adults. Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood.

4. According to the latest diet surveys, children and teenagers consume around 40% more added sugar than the recommended daily allowance; much of this coming from snacks and sweets.3 We are now seeing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, early markers of heart disease, breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures and psychological effects in young children.

5. In 2014 Public Health England reported that 12% of children under three have tooth decay and an average of three teeth in these children are decayed, missing or filled.6

6. Obesity can reduce life expectancy by eight to 10 years. This is equivalent to the effects of life-long smoking.7

Obesity is preventable and is the result of a complex, multifactorial integration of environmental and social factors that influence our dietary and physical activity patterns. Lack of supportive policies has led to the creation of an obesogenic environment that simply does not enable the public to make healthy choices easily. The UK are now behind many other western industrialised countries in reducing premature mortality rates.8 This increases the financial burden on local authority and health resources. Those working in primary care are required to work much more through a reactive approach to healthcare as opposed to the more desired proactive approach.

Obesity prevention strategies are beginning to gain traction but to see real strides, positive change must outrun the pace of negative contributors. Prevention policy should target a handful of key behaviours and the role of the primary care nurse is central to its delivery:

– Limiting processed foods (refined grains, processed meat and foods rich in sugar, saturated fat and salt) and beverages (sugary drinks).

– Increasing physical activity.

– Limiting “sit time”.
 
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