Why do we become overweight?

If you eat more calories than your body burns up, the extra calories are laid down in the body as fat and you put on weight.

Myth: Do you believe that you have put on weight because of your glands?
Many people believe that they are overweight because their glands aren't working properly. However, when doctors test glands, especially the thyroid, the results are almost always normal.

Myth: Do you believe you have a slow metabolism?
People believe they become overweight because they have a slow metabolism. In fact, the more you weigh, the faster your metabolism.

Myth: What about your genes?
There is nothing in your genes but some people may have inherited poor appetite control mechanisms. You tend to feel hungrier than other people, so you consume more calories than you need and put on weight. Unfortunately, the problem is still that you are taking in more calories than you are burning off.

Question: So, are people overweight because they are gluttons?
Answer: Not necessarily. Most overweight people are not gluttons! It's just that they eat more than others and are physically less active.

Question: In the last 20 years the average diet has contained fewer calories than previously but the average body weight has increased. Why is this?

Answer: Most of us have become physically less active. We sit around in front of the TV or computer instead of going out for walks or riding bikes. We use a car instead of our legs to go to the corner shop and we use lifts and escalators instead of stairs. Walking one mile extra a day throughout the year burns off over 9lbs of body fat in a year. Conversely, if you reduce your walking by one mile a day you would put on 9lb, unless you reduced your food intake accordingly!

How many people are overweight?

Nearly 1 in 2 adults are overweight and nearly 1 in 5 are obese (at least 20% overweight).

Why do we eat more than we need?

1. Comfort eating is a major cause. How you feel can affect how much you eat. It is tempting to comfort eat when you are fed up, depressed or angry. Boredom is another powerful cue to eat.

Tip: Next time you are bored go for a walk. This helps stop the feeling and you will burn off calories!

2. We have become programmed to respond to certain cues or triggers. For example, the sight and smell of food makes us salivate and want to eat. If you expose yourself to food too often each day then you may end up eating more than you need.

Tip: Keep your time in the kitchen to a minimum. Keep the biscuit tin out of sight in a cupboard which is hard to reach!
3. Some of us eat in certain situations even though we aren't actually hungry.

Tip: Next time you go to the cinema think carefully before you buy the popcorn!

How can you reduce your weight?
First, motivate yourself. Research has shown that what motivates you depends on your age and how overweight you are. Common reasons for people wanting to lose weight are:
* Your clothes are too tight or you feel uncomfortable.
* You are unhappy about your shape or appearance.
* You are concerned about your health, especially in old age.

* You lack self-confidence at work or around friends.

Most of us know a lot about the changes we need to make to our diets if we are to lose weight. But to make these changes and stick to them we need to ask ourselves these questions:
* How much is being overweight a risk to my health?
* What would be the benefits to me of a change in diet?
* Am I confident that I can make the necessary changes?* Does food play another role in my life apart from simply providing me with essential nourishment.