It is essential to maintain a healthy weight, because it is not good to be overweight/obese or underweight
Overweight and obesity, describe the carrying of excess body fat, that may have an adverse effect on your health. Being overweight and obese is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.
When trying to improve your health, you need to change your body composition rather than concentrating solely on your weight. The aim is to reduce levels of fat and increase your muscle mass. This may lead to a slight weight increase rather than loss because muscle is heavier than fat, but you will be healthier.
Being underweight is just as dangerous as being overweight. Conditions such as anorexia nervosa have been linked to coronary heart disease and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
The ideal is create a balance between:
- Calories in
- Calories out
To assess whether a person is overweight/obese, normal or underweight the following methods can be used:
- Body composition measurement
- Skin fold measurement
Both measurements can be carried out by our Health Promotion Nurses.
Tips to maintain a healthy weight:
1. Anorexia–Nervosa – Complications www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anorexia–nervosa/Pages/Complications.aspx
2. Eating disorders – Complications of Anorexia
www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_serious_anorexia_nervosa_000049_5.htm