Experts estimate that almost 2 billion people world wide are obese. The world leaders being the USA. Studies indicate that 1 in 16 women there are morbidly obese (BMI over 40). Perhaps the most disturbing finding is that amongst black women in the USA, the number of morbidly obese has doubled in less than a decade!

 The picture is not looking much better in Europe either with a three fold increase in morbid obesity, amongst men, in the last decade. Right now, 1 in 40 women in Europe are morbidly obese. There are significant health and social costs associated with morbid obesity which governments as well as the individuals themselves, need to address. 

On the other hand, there are several studies that indicate that health risks do not increase among overweight (BMI 26-29) or obese people (of BMI 30-35) whose weight is stable, and who exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. As a nation, we are more obsessed with weight than with health .

Just look at any women’s magazine, look in the drug stores and in the food isles of all food chains. There are messages- subliminal and obvious that heighten our awareness of weight without reference to health. We are so weight obsessed that in the USA we can go to a gym at any hour of the night and then drive thru’ to a favourite eatery straight afterwards for an ‘all you can eat’ buffet! Take off weight and put it straight back on so that we can be sold another quick -fix diet, medication or surgical procedure. We are a nation of yo-yo dieters , putting on and taking off the same 10, 15 or 30lbs! 

 We need to shift the focus from weight to health so that we are not left constantly wondering why we feel that we have little to no control over our size. Don’t get me wrong; Lose weight if you need to but think of your health, not just the numbers on the scales or the calorie count of the food.