International Mens Health Week
With the arrival of International Men’s Health Week, it only seems appropriate to bring issues around men’s health to the forefront.
Statistics have shown that one man in every five dies before he reaches the age of 65. The UK has the highest level of obesity in Western Europe with 24.9% of the population being obese and 61.7% are either overweight or obese.
Britain has become an ‘obese society’ where being overweight is “normal”. It is a trend three decades in the making which, according to experts, will take several more to reverse.
The consequences of obesity on our health include diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Approximately 9 out of 10 men won’t visit their GP over health concerns.
Compared with a healthy weight man, an obese man is:
- Five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
- Three times more likely to develop cancer of the colon
- More than two and a half times more likely to develop high blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease
- A BMI of 30 to 35 has been found to reduce life expectancy by an average of three years
- According to The World Cancer Research Fund, men that are overweight or obese increase their risk of advanced prostate cancer
Healthy and steady weight loss is recommended if you are above the recommended measurement. This can be achieved through eating a healthy and balanced diet of real and unprocessed food. There are also a number of areas that you can build on in order to stave off hunger and lose weight sustainably:
- Lean protein e.g. skinless chicken, fish, seafood, legumes
- Fibre rich foods e.g. fresh fruit, vegetables, beans
- Healthy fats e.g. nuts, avocado, olive oil, oily fish
We have a vast range of Workplace Nutrition Services – click here to find out more, or give us a call on 07810 716758 for an informal chat.
