Middle Britain Gets Bigger
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Research reveals the nation is 23 million stone overweight after a lazy summer
Brits estimate they’re carrying a staggering 23 million stone in excess weight1 – that’s over 16lbs per person – and the bulk of this is carried around our middles, research by Loveyourgut.com reveals today. The study coincides with Gut Week (23rd-29th August), which aims to raise awareness of the importance of good gut health, and shows that a summer of indulgence has not helped.
Despite a hot summer bursting with major sporting events, many Britons claim this hasn’t had a positive impact on their exercise efforts. In fact, the heat is blamed by almost a quarter (22%), who say their fitness regimes go out the window when it’s too hot. And, rather than being inspired to get out and play football during the World Cup, 14% think the month of matches actually had a detrimental effect on their health as they ate and drank more than normal.
It seems that after a number of dismal summers, we’ve embraced the sunshine and this has led to a summer of socialising, with visits to the pub and barbeques high on the agenda – the average Brit clocked up 73 pub visits and approximately 40 barbeque sessions2. What’s more, almost two thirds (61%) admitted to eating more on these occasions than they would at a ‘normal’ meal.
Over the course of the summer season, the average Brit consumed:
- 81 cans of beer & 57 glasses of wine
- 73 bags of crisps
- 59 bar snacks such as pork pies or scotch eggs
- 56 sausages & 54 burgers
- 36 ice creams
Not helped by a summer socialising indulgence, the average British adult is carrying around an excess of approximately 16.5lbs (over 1 stone), and nearly one fifth (17%) of us admit we usually put on weight during the summer. For almost all (89%), the effects are most noticeable on our tummies – which may not only be unsightly, but means we’re also potentially putting our health at risk.
Dr Christian Jessen, medic and supporter of Gut Week 2010 says, “It seems that the hot weather has led to a more relaxed view towards exercising and our diet. We all like to indulge from time to time but it can sometimes get out of control. Carrying excess weight around the middle – especially inside the abdomen and around the vital organs – significantly increases your risks of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, acid reflux and other digestive problems. Exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are the most important ways of helping to shift that central fat and improving your overall health.”
Dr Christian Jessen surveys the food and drink we've consumed this summer
As the summer draws to an end, 7% admit they are struggling to shift the extra weight they put on. For the one in ten (13%) who are looking at the autumn as an opportunity to change their eating habits for the better, Dr Jessen has put together the following tips:
- 1) Walk more - It doesn’t have to mean pounding away on treadmills in the gym. Simple things like using stairs instead of lifts, and walking up escalators instead of standing on them will help to burn excess calories. It also means you can still work up a bit of a sweat if the weather outside is cold and grey.
- 2) Reduce weight – overweight thighs and bums are not as risky medically as carrying too much fat around and inside your tummy. Exercise will help to shift this fat first, and so make a big difference to your long-term health.
- 3) My top diet tip - Reduce, but don’t eliminate altogether certain foods, especially your favourites. We’re not strong enough to go without the foods we crave, and will usually cave in to temptation in the end. If these happen to be high in fat, salt or sugar, then carefully control how much of them you eat and choose skimmed or low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat to help reduce fat intake significantly.
- 4) Eat more fibre – It can protect against cancer and helps prevent a variety of unpleasant bowel conditions. Autumnal foods like stews and casseroles often have a high fibre content so look up some recipes that contain wholemeal bread and pasta, brown rice, oats and wholegrain cereals and vegetables such as onions, peas, broccoli and green beans, pulses, chickpeas and haricot beans.
- 5) Try to cut down on salt – Instead of adding salt to your meals, add garlic or chilli to recipes and experiment with autumnal herbs like thyme, rosemary, parsley or chives.
Dr Nick Read, Acting Chair of the Gut Trust, says, “Those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) will know how important diet and exercise are to help manage the condition and keep their digestive systems as healthy as possible. But if the average Brit is carrying over a stone in excess weight – a shocking stat – I’d advise the general population to make a real effort with these areas too. Your guts are a great barometer for how you feel physically, so if you look after them, they’ll look after you.”
Organised by the Gut Week partners – digestive health charities Core and The Gut Trust in association with Yakult – www.loveyourgut.com offers practical advice and information on how to maintain gut health and seek help and support .
- 1. Research was conducted by One Poll in June 2010, with 3,000 respondents, aged 18-65 years old. National figure calculated by multiplying the average individual weight gain (in lbs) by 50% of the UK adult (ages 18-65) population (amount of sample who consider themselves overweight) = 16.5 x 19,750,900/14 to give figure in stones. Population figures taken from Office of National Statistics (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/populationestimates/flash_pyramid/UK-pyramid/pyramid6_30.html)
- 2. Amount calculated by multiplying average number of barbeques/pub visits anticipated (2.5 per week/4.57 per week, respectively) by the duration of the summer season (measured as May- August = 16 weeks)
