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Original poster

1 in 4 of the UK population is obese.

55 replies

Posey · 17/03/2006 17:42

Apparently we're the fattest country in Europe. Can't see it myself, certainly not noticed it round here or a lot of the places I've visited. What do you think? It really surprised me.

OP posts:
Lucycat · 17/03/2006 17:44

It depends where I go, if I go into town then I do notice it, but not so much near where I live. Can't say for the rest of the country though.

mcmudda · 17/03/2006 17:47

I can totally believ it here in the West of Scotland .

I'm only a stone overweight, but because of my height (5ft) on the BMI I'm clinically obese Sad

throckenholt · 17/03/2006 17:56

there must be some areas where practically everyone is obese because most people I know are not (shame I can't be included in that !)

waterfalls · 17/03/2006 18:02

My sister has weighing scales that tell you if you are overweight/underweight etc, she is a size12, not sure of her weight but the scales scream at her that she is obeseShock

Mirage · 17/03/2006 20:46

This always surprises me.I only know one person who could be described as obese.I can't say I've noticed more overweight people about than I used to.

As throckenholt says,they must all be concentrated in a few areas.

pupuce · 17/03/2006 20:56

It does not surprise me one bit. Most people don't realise what obese means......
There obese kids in my kids schools and most parents are large if not obese - I am in the South East BTW.

notasheep · 17/03/2006 20:58

Doesnt surprise me and 60% of population overweight.

Students use to be stick thin-they are fat ones here

MaloryMargotTowers · 17/03/2006 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScummyMummy · 17/03/2006 21:02

Obesity is very much a class issue I think.

MaloryMargotTowers · 17/03/2006 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScummyMummy · 17/03/2006 21:03

poor prople are fat

pupuce · 17/03/2006 21:04

Hello scummy - not seen you around at all.... have I jsut not been on threads you've been on?

ScummyMummy · 17/03/2006 21:04

well, not all of them, obv, but it is an expanding (lol not) problem.

ScummyMummy · 17/03/2006 21:05

Hiya. Pupuce. How're you? I've been around now and then.

Patttsy · 17/03/2006 21:06

The measure of whether you are overweight and/or obese does not take into account differing builds, or the fact that different races have different average weights e.g a Japanese person of similar height and build generally weigh less than an person of African and/or Caribbean descent.

Yes, there are more people who are eating more calories than they burn off each day, but I think if unhealthy food was made to be more expensive in relation to healthy food, different choices might be made.

notasheep · 17/03/2006 21:06

I think obesity is a religion issue too

pupuce · 17/03/2006 21:07

I'm great thanks.... am also not as present as I use to be....

FioFio · 17/03/2006 21:07

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notasheep · 17/03/2006 21:07

Pattssy-an apple is cheaper than a mars bar!

pupuce · 17/03/2006 21:08

" I think if unhealthy food was made to be more expensive in relation to healthy food, different choices might be made."
To me taht ain't the issue... it's the fact that UNHEALTHY foods are addictive. A mars bar costs 5op...an apple costs less!

pupuce · 17/03/2006 21:09

LOL nota - I wrote the exact same thing!!!!!!

quelsouci · 17/03/2006 21:11

I'm not surprised. So many yummy treats!

flutterbee · 17/03/2006 21:13

I don't think anyone has any excuse for being overweight and yes I can say that as I am officially clinically obese and there is no excuse I eat too much and don't excersize. I am determined this year to loose the weight and will do it. It has nothing to do with being poor or rich just laziness and stupidity I know lots of well off middle class people who are very overweight.

There is also no excuse for obese kids and I feel that if a child is seriously over weight then social services should become involved because it amounts to child abuse.

Yes the figures are probably misleading as the BMI is totally useless and does not allow for, culture/bulid etc however you can not deny that we are a fat nation. Does anyone know if the BMI is used in other countries, because if it is then we are on a level playing feild and we would officially be the fattest nation.

To be honest though I couldn't care less if everyone else in the country was fat, I wonder if we have the highest amount of annorexia cases too.

notasheep · 17/03/2006 21:21

pupuce- i eat the apples,dp eats the mars bars.
He is overweight,I am not.so there we are!!!!

Chapsmum · 17/03/2006 21:30

the thing about that notasheep is that clinical obesity is a measurement of your body fat ratio. your dp could potenetially be more obese than you are!

Somepeople are naturally more prone to being fat. In fact some cardiologist belive that a certain population of heart disease suferers will develop it regardless of their diet! IE you can be thin but still suffer a heart attack at 50!Shock

however heart disease is not the only complication of clinical obesity, and allot of(not all) obesity is preventable with diet and exercise.