Obesity poses a major risk to health and life and many medical conditions and complications can be attributed to being overweight. These include diabetes, respiratory problems, hypertension and arthritis.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the management of obesity, but is not the only form of treatment.

With the reliance on cars, all sorts of labour saving devices, and many jobs being done sitting down, lifestyles generally require very little exercise and not enough adults make the effort to take sufficient exercise to benefit their health.

Overweight and obesity occurs when more energy, in the form of food is taken into the body than is expended in physical exercise. If energy taken in balances with the energy expended weight should remain stable.

One misconception is that obesity can be caused by a slow metabolism. In fact obese people have daily energy expenditures that are higher than their thinner counterparts.

Waist measurements reflect fat distribution and can identify those at risk from high abdominal stores of fat. Measurements in men of over 37 inches and in women of over 32 inches are indication of risk.

If weight loss is to be achieved, realistic goals must be set. Many people lose weight only to reclaim it again later. Targets of 5 – 10% of starting weight are considered realistic and are more likely to be attained, than striving to achieve ‘ideal’ weight.

Reducing daily intake by 500 calories would equal a weight loss of ½ kg a week, this is far more beneficial than a ‘crash’ diet, which in the future is totally impossible to stick to, and therefore not conductive to long term success.

Healthy eating is paramount in maintain good nutritional intake while losing weight.

· Don’t eat too much fat.

· Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

· Limit sugary foods

· Limit alcohol intake.

· Eat food rich in fibre and starch.

· 50% of total energy should come from carbohydrates – potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals. These are often considered to be the fattening foods, but in fact they are fairly low in energy and compared to fats contain about half the calories per gram, so have the baked potato but don’t put butter on it.

· Have five portions of fruit and vegetable each day, these are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Suggested ways of achieving this include:

· Adding sliced banana or apple to

      breakfast cereal.

· Adding chopped fruit to a low fat

     yoghurt.

· Make interesting and colourful salads to have with a main meal.

· Sources of protein include poultry, fish, beans and nuts, but must people eat far more protein than is necessary and some sources, such as red meat, can be high in fat. Therefore choose lean cuts and remove visible fat, and choose white meat such as chicken and turkey in preference to red meats.

· Limit the amount of nuts eaten, as whilst they are a good source of protein, they are high in fat.

· Do not eat battered fish, or cook it in fat or oil, fish grilled or steamed is far more beneficial.

· Milk, yoghurt and cheese are high in fat, therefore low fat versions are recommended. Fats and sugars can be part of a healthy diet as long as they are not eaten too often or in too larger quantities. Alternatives are available and encouraged, such as low fat spreads, and artificial sweeteners. Alcohol is high in calories, and should preferably be avoided, but if that’s not possible, 3 units a day should not be exceeded – a unit is ½ pint of beer, 1 pub measure of spirit or a small glass of wine.

There is no magical formula for weight loss apart for reducing energy intake and increasing energy output. A sensible, healthy nutritionally complete option is needed, and diets that advocate ingesting high protein at the expense of carbohydrate or eating only one food (e.g. the grapefruit diet), or avoiding particular foods completely should be avoided.

Those wanting to lose weight should be encouraged to keep a diary to enable them to become aware of what, when and how much was eaten and drunk; take regular meals, rather than snacking and above  all be given support, encouragement and motivation to succeed.