Tips on healthier eating and becoming more active
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Health risks
Having a waistline of 37 inches or more for a man and 32 inches or more for a woman can put you at a greater risk of developing a number of serious health conditions, such as:
Your health could be at greater risk if you’re storing a lot of fat around your waist.
We store excess body fat under the skin but also around our vital organs in the abdomen.
Having a large amount of tummy fat could make you more likely to develop heart problems or Type 2 diabetes.
Tips
Top tips to make a difference:
- cut out the snacks – research has shown that eating as little as 100 calories more than the body needs each day could add up to 10lbs of weight gain in a year
- cook healthier food – you can find ideas on Choose to Live Better
- get more active – a simple way to get started is to go walking
Many people don’t realise how much they are eating over the course of the day; 100 calories can be as little as an extra slice of bread, an extra three sweets, or an extra forkful of spaghetti.
Snacks, nibbles and second helpings are things we tuck into without even thinking, but every extra bit that goes in, ends up going on.
By being mindful of what we eat, cooking healthier, and cutting out the extras, we can help reduce the risk of putting on the pounds.
Being more active
Getting more active is a great way to manage our weight. By fitting more steps into our everyday routine we can start to feel the benefits.
For example, doing small things like getting off the bus one stop earlier and walking the rest of the way, or taking the stairs at work rather than the lift, can make a big difference.
By taking simple measures to move more, we can help manage our weight, as well as boost our mental health and reduce stress and anxiety.