Weight Loss
Obesity is a common problem in the UK. It is thought to affect around 25% of all adults and around 1 in every 5 children aged 10 to 11.
Obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Regular exercise and a 5% reduction in body weight could reduce your type 2 diabetes risk by more than 50%.
(Ref: www.diabetes.co.uk.)
What is a BMI?
BMI, or body mass index, is a common method to check if you are a healthy weight. It looks at your weight in relation to your height but is not useful in those who are very muscular as they can have a high BMI reading despite low levels of body fat.
of A BMI of between 18.5 to 24.9 means you’re a healthy weight, whereas 25 to 29.9 means you’re overweight, and above 30 means you’re obese. Being obese can increase the risk of developing diabetes, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast and bowel cancer, and many other conditions.OThe way BMI is calculated for South Asians is different to the way in which it is calculated for people with a European background.
Ethnicity has also shown to contribute to risk of the problems of being overweight such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. South asians are at greater risk and therefore their BMI should not exceed 22.9.
Orlistat
The best way to lose weight is by introducing both a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise. If lifestyle changes alone do not help a medicine called orlistat may be helpful. Orlistat is a drug that can be used to help weight loss, or to help reduce the risk of regaining weight already lost. If taken correctly, Orlistat blocks some of the fat that is eaten, keeping it from being absorbed by the body. This medicine must be used together with a reduced-calorie diet. Our pharmacist can prescribe you Orlistat if appropriate as well as provide you with advice on how to lose weight, including measuring your BMI and waist circumference. We can also refer you to various organisations that can help you lose weight.