People are unaware of the health dangers of carrying excess weight around the waist,
A poll of more than 2,000 people showed that most had no idea that their spare tyre put them at increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
A total 97 per cent were unaware of the link, although 71 per cent said they had an expanding waistline.
Three leading UK charities have launched a new Active Fat campaign to raise awareness of the dangers.
Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation which is working with Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK, said: “That ‘harmless’ spare tyre around your waist is actually a major health hazard. While you might be relaxing at home, your fat cells are working overtime to pump out excess hormones and other chemicals that can cause disease.
“Wrapping a tape measure around your middle takes just a few seconds but it could be your first step towards a healthier future.”
As part of the campaign, the charities are calling for standard labelling on foods, highlighting the ‘traffic lights’ system for nutrition.
For peace of mind...
Don’t forget that with Benenden Healthcare you can seek advice on weight gain and its associated illnesses from our 24/7 GP Advice Line and the Health Concern Advice Line. Benenden Healthcare members can discuss any health concerns they might have in complete confidence. It costs £1.50 per person, per week for Benenden Healthcare Society membership. You can join Benenden Healthcare online.
This article first appeared in issue 11 of benhealth, the magazine for Benenden Healthcare members.
