This publication is a collection of resources for consumers on the topics of weight management and obesity. The resources on this list are in a variety of information formats: articles, pamphlets, books, and full-text materials on the World Wide Web. (more…)
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has doubled in the past two decades. Nearly onethird of adults are obese, that is, they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. One of the fastest growing segments of the population is that with a BMI with accompanying comorbidities.
Over the last two decades, the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has increased substantially; it is estimated that as many as 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, representing a doubling of the rate among children and tripling of the rate among adoles cents. (more…)
Research has found that diet affects the development of high blood pressure, or hypertension (the medical term). Recently, two studies showed that following a particular eating plan—called the DASH diet—and reducing the amount of sodium consumed lowers blood pressure.
While each step alone lowers blood pres- sure, the combination of the eating plan and a reduced sodium intake gives the biggest benefit and may help prevent the development of high blood pressure. (more…)
NUTRITION AND HEALTH IN ENGLAND Good nutrition is vital to good health. While many people in England eat well, a large number do not, particularly among the more disadvantaged and vulnerable in society. In particular, a significant proportion of the population consumes less than the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables and fibre but more than the recommended amount of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar. Such poor nutrition is a major cause of ill health and premature death in England. Cancer and cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, are the major causes of death in England, accounting together for almost 60% of premature deaths. About one-third of cancers can be attributed to poor diet and nutrition. (more…)
Expanding epidemic You can’t have missed the news, Britain has some of the worst igures in Europe with almost two-thirds of adults either overweight or obese. And it’s not just adults – children are getting heavier too, with more than a quarter of under 11s carrying more fat than they should. Being overweight isn’t just about how you look. As waistlines get bigger so does the risk of heart disease, strokes and some cancers. (more…)
