February 20, 2013

New figures reveal England’s growing waistline

Statistics published by the NHS Information Centre show 65 percent of men and 58 percent of women in England are now classed as overweight or obese.

Worryingly, only 36 percent of adults were found to take part in 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity at least once a week and household purchases of fruit are on a downward trend since 2008.

The trend seems to be more pronounced in women, with almost three times as many women as men admitted to hospital for obesity in 2011-12.

Our Senior Cardiac Nurse, Amy Thompson, said: “These figures hold a mirror to the state of the country’s health – and it is not a flattering reflection.

“The number of people who are overweight or obese is steadily climbing and unhealthy lifestyle choices are helping us along this path.

“After our Olympic year, it is a sad fact that only a third of us manage 30 minutes of physical activity once a week, when we should all be aiming for 150 minutes every week to keep our hearts healthy.

“Alarmingly, over 1 in 10 children are now classed as obese when they start school. We know that obese children are more likely to become obese adults, but education is the way to break this cycle. By teaching children about healthy eating and inspiring them to be active at a young age, we can help these kids towards a healthier future.”

Want to get fit but in need of inspiration? BHF events are a great way of keeping active, having fun, and raising vital funds to help the fight against heart disease.