published in Reader's Digest,
04 February 2016
link to Reader's Digest article [1]
digestion [2] exercise [3] mental health [4]
Obesity is ever on the increase, and has been recognised as a serious health problem since the 19th-century. Today we are even more aware of the physical, psychological and social effects of obesity, and can create an ‘alphabet of obesity,’ spelling out the toll that obesity takes on the body.
William Banting [5], a 19th-century undertaker, was one of the first people to recognise that obesity was damaging to health, shocking the nation when he famously declared, “Of all that affects humanity I do not know of nor can I imagine any more distressing condition than that of obesity”.
Subsequently, at a meeting of the Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors of America in 1901, data was presented that showed, for the first time, a statistical link between being overweight and poor health.
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1953 [6], Dr David Barr begins to describe some of the health risks associated with obesity, stating that “A mere list of its hazards, disabilities and discomforts is formidable.”
Today, the country’s leading doctor, Dame Sally Davies, has stated that the current obesity epidemic is so serious that it should be treated as a ‘national risk’ alongside terrorism.
A list of health problems and difficulties associated with obesity from A–Z
A
B [7]
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
The good news is that losing even a small amount of weight, 5%, can reduce many of the serious risks of obesity.
While some cases have a genetic or medical cause, generally dieting [16] and exercise can help, especially if combined with cognitive behavioural therapy [17].
The Health Secretary is even considering introducing a ‘sugar tax’ to fight obesity. With 600 million obese adults worldwide, tackling obesity has become a global priority.
Links
[1] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-centre/a%E2%80%93z-obesity
[2] https://helencowan.co.uk/../tags/digestion
[3] https://helencowan.co.uk/../tags/exercise
[4] https://helencowan.co.uk/../tags/mental%20health
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Banting
[6] http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM195306042482303
[7] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-centre/how-treat-asthma
[8] http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet
[9] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/wellbeing/healthy-mind/what-depression-causes-and-symptoms
[10] http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/484383/cmo-report-2014.pdf
[11] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-a-z/blood-pressure/high-blood-pressure-treatments-and-remedies
[12] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-z/heartburn-indigestion/which-medicines-should-i-use-get-rid-indigestion
[13] http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-stroke-obesity-idUSKBN0O027420150515
[14] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cholesterol/Pages/Causes.aspx
[15] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/wellbeing/sleep-well/insomnia-remedies-and-treatments
[16] http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/wellbeing/eat-well/evolution-dieting
[17] http://www.myvmc.com/treatments/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-for-weight-loss-cbt/