Do you know the facts about “a healthy body weight” that is?
I believe your confidence shouldn’t necessarily come from body image, it may play a small part but it shouldn’t be the key to it, that should come from a strong sense of self.
Yet that doesn’t change the fact that being outside the healthy weight range increases the risk of disease and health implications.
Before you read on, remember these are factual, objective statistics not designed to hurt feelings.
If everyone is Australia was in the normal weight range, the incidence of diabetes would be reduced by 53%, coronary heart disease by 25%, breast cancer by 22%, osteoarthritis by 45%, chronic kidney disease by 38%, Oesophageal cancer by 38%, stroke by 22% and back pain by 8%…
The hard part about digesting these numbers is our experience surrounding these implications. We often don’t see the affects our lifestyle choices have on our bodies until approx 35 years of age with a steady increase to 55 years old and a sharp increase from there.
It’s that “I seem to be fine the way I am now” mentality which doesn’t take into account some forward thinking to correct simple lifestyle choices now.
The implications on our health surrounding a healthy weight range are obvious (as stated above) but less obvious is the strain on our health system, health providers and our friends and family.
I know this isn’t necessarily a blog that inspires but I’m hoping it educates. Opens eyes to the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle and living outside the healthy weight range.
Literally all health markers improve as excess body weight increases.
So with this Good News… What can be done?
Pretty easily modifiable options are available. Small subtle changes in diet such as more water or more vegetables than dense breads and pastas (note how I didn’t say no pasta or bread).
Small but steady increases in moderate physical activity i.e just 15 mins of moderate intensity exercise (a brisk walk that gets your heart rate up) 5 days per week is enough to see some improvements in cardiovascular health and aid in improving healthy weight and reduce the burden on the australian economy by at least 13%
My job at BODICOMPLETE is to facilitate good health and a lifestyle that carries our members forward into a more prosperous future through exercise, habit setting and education.
And if today’s numbers help encourage 1 person to make some small changes today, then I know I’ve done my job.
Citation: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2017). Impact of physical inactivity as a risk factor for chronic conditions: Australian Burden of Disease . Canberra: AIHW.