Although obesity levels are rising steeply in the UK, many people refuse to accept they are at risk of health problems, research has found. This compares with 1980 figures which showed that just eight per cent of women and six per cent of men were clinically obese. However, a report launched on Monday by the Bread for Life campaign has found that only three per cent of men and six per cent of women perceive themselves as very overweight.
Obesity is associated with increased risk of premature death and ill health.
It is estimated that obesity accounts for six to eight per cent of the total health care budget. Expert report To address the problem, the Bread for Life campaign commissioned Dr Susan Jebb, head of nutrition and health at the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Centre in Cambridge, to identify risk factors for individuals and to draw up strategies to combat obesity. Consuming a diet with less fat and a greater emphasis on carbohydrates, especially complex carbohydrates, such as bread, is a proven strategy for weight control. Complex carbohydrates can help curb appetite and subsequent snacking by makng you feel full. Dr Jebb's report highlights a study that showed that people who ate a high level of fat in their diet were 19-times more likely to be obese than a group which had a low fat diet.