AT Home with Christian Jessen - March 2011 - (Page 88)

Weighty T measures Bad diets, little or no exercise and an altogether more sedentary lifestyle have all contributed to rising levels of obesity in adults and children in the UK today. It’s up to individuals to change their ways or su er the consequences WORDS: Georgina Maric | PHOTOGRAPH: Getty Images here’s no escaping it: obesity is on the rise in the UK. Indeed, recent ﬁgures have revealed that by 2050, nine out of 10 British adults and two-thirds of children will be overweight or obese if everyone continues to live the lifestyles they lead now. Currently, 24% of women in the UK are obese compared to 23% of men. It can lead to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, among other things. MEASURING OBESITY The body mass index (BMI) is a measurement based on your weight and height used to assess whether your weight falls within a healthy range. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy, while a BMI of between 25.0 and 29.9 indicates that you’re overweight. If you have a BMI of 30 or above, you are considered obese, and if it reaches or exceeds 40, you are morbidly obese (see pg 191). WHAT CAUSES IT? Lifestyles have changed dramatically in the past 30 years, which is why obesity has trebled since 1980, when only 6% of men and 8% of women were obese. Since then, the availability of convenience foods and factors such as car journeys replacing walks to work and school has led to more people putting on weight. It is lifestyle that determines how the genes develop. Obesity can be hereditary, so some people have an increased risk. Genetic factors can affect appetite, the rate at which you burn energy (metabolic rate) and how the body stores fat. Examples of genetic conditions are polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). But even if your genes make weight gain more likely, it is not inevitable that you will be overweight. There are also psychological reasons for overeating – overweight people often have a poor body image, which leads them to comfort eat. But as they put on more weight, they become more depressed and so eat even more, leading ultimately to becoming obese. Normal-weight people successfully balance the amount of food they eat with how much energy they use up during daily activity. In other words, all the energy provided by the food they eat is burned up and they stay 088 | MARCH 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Christian Jessen - March 2011

EDITOR'S LETTER
A WARM WELCOME FROM DR CHRISTIAN
NEWS
SAVE THE DATE
DEFENSIVE EATING
SLEEPING BEAUTY
SPOIL YOURSELF
FAMOUS FIGURES
WIN TOP PRIZES
DR JESSEN, I PRESUME
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
PROTECT YOURSELF
GETTING OVER IT
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
WHAT LIES BENEATH
SUGAR HIGHS AND LOWS
WHAT'S UP, DOC?
ON THE RUN
SMOKING GUN
FRESHLY GROUND
I CAN'T EAT THAT
OFF THE SCALES
WALKING TALL
IN GOOD HANDS?
GIRLS ONLY
IN THE BLOOD
PERIOD PROPERTIES
FERTILITY HELP
A WEE ISSUE
UNDER YOUR HAT
CONFESSIONS OF AN ALCOHOLIC
DANGER ZONE
BODY BASICS
HEART-STOPPING MOMENTS
BACK TO BASICS
WALKING ON SUNSHINE
THE SKIN YOU LIVE IN
LISTEN UP
EYESORE
IN PLAIN SIGHT
DOWN UNDER
BUMP 'N GRIND
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX
MAN TALK
DO YOU KNOW YOUR BMI?
I'LL HAVE A 'P' PLEASE
BOYS DON'T CRY
TO THE EXTREME
THREE-DAY SLIM DOWN
TOTALLY ADDICTED TO CAKE
JUST A PINCH
GYM JAMS
THEY'RE DOING WHAT?
GOTTA HAVE IT
EYES WIDE SHUT
PETER PAN PLAN
HOW OLD?
HOW OLD?
FUZZ FREE
FUZZ FREE
CUT HERE
CUT HERE
ON THE MEND
ON THE MEND
KNOW YOUR NIP/TUCKS
KNOW YOUR NIP/TUCKS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
STAY SAFE ABROAD
STAY SAFE ABROAD
SAY CHEESE!
SAY CHEESE!
IVORY TOWER
IVORY TOWER
MOUTH MAYHEM
MOUTH MAYHEM
COMING SOON
COMING SOON
LIGHTEN UP
LIGHTEN UP
COULD YOU BE A GUINEA PIG?
COULD YOU BE A GUINEA PIG?
HEADS UP
HEADS UP
LAST WORD
LAST WORD
STOCKISTS
STOCKISTS

AT Home with Christian Jessen - March 2011