Obesity and being overweight is the biggest risk to women, according to a new report released today.
‘The Health of the 51%: Women’, the annual report released by Chief Medical Officer, Sally Davies, warns that obesity is harming women’s health and aims to tackle the myth behind pregnant women ‘eating for two’.
Half of all women between the ages of 25 to 34 are overweight or obese, while 36% of 16-24 girls are obese. Within both boys and girls aged between two and 15, over 33% are classified as obese.
Davies writes, “Tackling obesity in the whole population is an accepted public health priority. However, I advocate recognising obesity at the level if a “national risk”. I congratulate all those committed to tackling obesity and improving weight management (at both professional and personal levels) and I look forward to seeing government action through 2016 to tackle obesity.”
She argues that women need to take their weight seriously; especially those who are hoping to start a family. The report highlights that expectant mothers who are overweight or obese increase their risk of having a stillborn child or an infant who suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity themselves.
Davies continues, “This is a difficult message to convey, as it risk burdening women with guilt and onerous responsibility; I believe, however, that it can also empower women to take positive steps to healthy, stable nutrition and physical activity to benefit themselves and their families.”
Davies wants to encourage women to move away from the view that pregnancy is a time to be ‘eating for two’, and to eat more healthily and taking part in casual exercise.
She continues, “Tackling obesity in the whole population is an accepted public health priority. However, I advocate recognising obesity at the level if a “national risk”. I congratulate all those committed to tackling obesity and improving weight management (at both professional and personal levels) and I look forward to seeing government action through 2016 to tackle obesity.”
Dame Sally Davies is the first female to take up the role of Chief Medical Officer, having previously worked for the Department of Health and the National Health Service. You can read or download her full report here.