Weight and Obesity

Weight

Weight and obesity can be hard to talk about. We know that being overweight contributes to a multitude of health problems, including:

Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Cancer
Stroke
Depression
Sleep apnoea

We also know that attaining and maintaining a healthy weight can be very hard for many people. The answer isn't necessarily entirely to do with the number of calories in (diet) and the number of calories out (exercise), but we do know that this is a large part of the problem.

Of the two (diet and exercise), your diet is likely to have more of an effect on your weight than exercise, but addressing both is likely to make more difference than only one. There are also other factors involved, which we know less about - what you eat, when you eat, and how long the gaps are between meals also play a large role in regulating the hormones which drive appetite and how your body deals with the energy you take in.

Obesity is defined by your BMI - there is a BMI calculator below which you can use to work out your BMI. If your doctor says or writes that you are obese, this is not meant judgementally, it is a statement of fact, based on your BMI. Like all measures, BMI is not perfect, but for most people (other than perhaps elite althletes) your BMI is likely to be a fairly good indicator of whether you have a healthy weight.

18.5 to 24.9 means you're a healthy weight
25 to 29.9 means you're overweight
30 to 39.9 means you're obese
40 or above means you're severely obese

If you would like to talk more about your weight, you can discuss it with your GP or contact LiveWell Dorset. Weight loss pills rarely help and can be dangerous. Some people may benefit from surgery for obesity (e.g. gastric banding); this is something we can discuss, including the criteria for referral.

For further information please see the NHS website.