From Precious
April 2011
Obesity: weighing up the facts
By Dr Funke Baffour
Eating is one of life's ultimate pleasures. When we contemplate the taste,
smell, texture, and how food makes us feel, we can see that it can be a
great
source of satisfaction for us all. However, this very thing that is so
pleasurable can be a danger to us all too.
Currently obesity is on the rise, and what was once considered a problem
solely for the White population in the UK, is now being considered by
some as a potential epidemic for a number of minority ethnic groups,
particularly
Black women.
So obesity is…
Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. Our body is made up of
water, fat, protein, carbohydrate and various vitamins and minerals.
Very few people actually consider that the more calories consumed and
the fewer
calories burnt are what usually cause obesity. People gain weight because
the body has not burnt off the fat but instead stored it beneath the
skin and around the internal organs.
On the other hand, if you consume fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight.
It's a simplistic equation and many of us should be able to
follow it easily and lead healthier lives but what complicates things is
the emotional aspect attached to being overweight and the unhealthy life
style that many have developed along the way.
The facts...
The World Health Organisation (WHO)predicts
that if the current trends continue, by 2015, there will be 2.3 billion
overweight adults in
the world
and more than
700 million will be obese. Furthermore, it has
been reported that the UK is second to the USA in terms of prevalent obesity. WHO refers
to obesity as one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st
Century. It has cautioned that obesity is
set to overtake some of the more traditional causes of ill health such
as under nutrition and infectious disease. It has also been suggested that
obesity is costing the British National Health Service one billion pounds
annually. These statistics are quite astonishing. But where do Black women
fit within this framework?
To date statistics concerning the prevalence of obesity among Black women have been sketchy to say the least, although there are claims that Black women tend to be more overweight and obese than their White counterparts. What we do know is that there is an increase in the amount of obesity related illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension and various cancers among Black women.
Statistics have shown that in the UK, obesity prevalence is high for Black African, Black Caribbean and Pakistani women and low in those of a Chinese background (Health Survey for England 2004, 2006). Black women, naturally adapt to a larger ideal body shape, and are more accepting of being overweight than a White woman, and are therefore more likely to become obese. The acceptance of larger body sizes indeed can be viewed as a positive thing, but has such an acceptance led Black women to become less concerned about the impact that their relationship with food can have on their overall health?
In spite of the above, one also needs to bear in mind that the term obesity is stigmatised in the modern western world where negative connotations of ‘being fat’ are held. However, in some cultures it is considered as a sign of wealth and fertility. In several parts of the world women were sent to ‘fattening sheds’ before they got married or before they prepared themselves for having children. The concept of being overweight and obese has extremely diverse meanings in different cultures.
Although the exact prevalence figures for obesity among Black women is lacking, what I am seeing frequently in my practice are Black women presenting with problems with their relationship with food and their bodies. For these women food has become the source of their life in enabling them to deal with uncontrollable emotions.
Black women who have issues concerning their weight tend to hold negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves. They have in essence developed an unhealthy relationship with food and their bodies. Indeed no one is exempt from facing difficulty in experiencing emotions, however there are just some emotions that some people may find so overwhelming and therefore use eating as a coping mechanisms to ‘deal;’ with such emotions.
The reality is that emotional eating can lead to excessive weight gain and an unhelpful relationship with a person’s food and their body. This may be symbolic of other relationships that they may have had. This is not to say that all obese people have bad relationships – but often, if they go back far enough, there will be a key relationship that could be identified to have had a particular impact on their adult life and relationship with food.
Obesity, whether we like it or not, is considered a serious health problem, even though it is not given as much attention as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. People that are obese are considered lazy or unable to control their eating. Instead of being perceived as needy they are labeled greedy, and greed is a concept no-one wants to be linked with.
But the reality of the matter is obese people are unable to control their emotions, which is why they tend to eat food. In my opinion, obesity has been given a very simplistic definition and deserves more understanding – as do those considered to be obese. There is no doubt in my mind that there are many, many, complexities that arise with the issue of obesity.
But despite this complexity, I am a great believer that we all have the potential to succeed, and that a person’s decision to manage their weight should be based on making changes in their life to ultimately benefit them. If weight loss/management is perceived as benefiting others then this is in essence is destroying a persons self identity as well as their self worth. The key is to learn the techniques that will help one to take control of their weight. See below for some key examples
Dr Funke’s Top Tips towards Taking Control of your Weight
Reducing weight by just 5-10% may reduce the risk of high blood pressure,
diabetes, and heart disease. If you take medication for these conditions,
you may require less once you've lost weight. This will help reduce side
effects from medication, as well as medical costs.
For many Black women, a family tradition of ‘soul food’ may pose a problem
for today's less active lifestyle. Soul foods traditionally depend on
fat, sugar and sodium for their flavor. By modifying recipes and decreasing
portion
sizes, they can reduce their weight and the chronic diseases that accompany
it.
1. Slow weight loss
Don't feel you have to start a popular diet to get your desired weight
loss. Sometimes starting off slowly will help you gain more control in
the long run. It may be the case that you start by cutting down on the
amount of bread that you eat and increasing your intake of water. Small
steps tend to lead to bigger ones, which in turn lead towards your ultimate
weight loss goal.
2. Where do you eat?
Several studies have shown that as the number of hours of TV viewing goes
up, so does a person's weight. The reason for this is because you are
no longer eating consciously and thus you will not have the ability to
identify when you are naturally full. Avoid eating when you are doing
something, take time out and eat consciously, you will not only enjoy
the food more but most importantly you will be able to identify when
you are full.
3. Keep a food diary
I know it can seem like a tedious task, however, studies have shown that
when you write down what you eat, you tend to eat less. Keeping a food
diary will force you to become more aware of your eating habits and emotions
that you may have attached to what you have eaten. By keeping a food diary
it also gives you a visual reminder of what you ate. Many people who are
obese report that they do not eat much, but when they write it down they
are usually quite astonished by the amount of grazing they do during the
day. So it may be the case that you don't eat large meals per se but the
amount of food that you tend to eat during the course of the day amounts
to much more than three large meals.
4. Become more active
Today we use our minds more than our physical body. This is why it is important
for us now in the 21st century to increase our physical activity to meet
our bodies’ requirements. Even though exercise alone will not give you
the weight loss you desire, it is nevertheless a key predicator to successful
weight management. Some studies have shown that having a pedometer helps
to increase physical activity. If you set your goal at ten thousand steps
per day whilst using a pedometer you can keep track on the amount you are
doing.
5. Take control of your emotions- understand your own route to
weight loss
I have worked with many people who feel unhappy about their weight and
in my experience it is often key to get them to delve into their psyche
and really think about the exact reasons as to why they have a problem
with their weight.
There are so many conflicting messages about how you could or should lose weight and maintain your weight loss that it makes many want to eat to feel better. Then the guilt and misery sets in and you go on another diet – usually on a Monday morning! You go on one diet, and then soon after there is new revolutionary diets that will help you lose weight quicker than you could ever imagine. Losing weight is an obstacle in itself, but keeping it off is the greatest challenge. Entering into any weight management programme may initially give you a heightened sense that you are embarking on something that is different and better than what you did before. For a while you are elated. You may tell yourself that this time things are going to be different. Very rarely do you consider why things will be different this time round.
I am a great believer that we all have the potential to succeed, and that your decision to manage your weight should be based on making changes in your life to benefit, first and foremost, you. If you see your weight loss/management as benefiting others, you are not only destroying your self identity but also your self worth.
If you are struggling with weight issues and would like to begin to understand why you are the weight you are enroll on Dr Funke’s –Take Control of your weight 12 week programme.
www.drfunke.co.uk
support@drfunke.co.uk
T 01992 651 976
F 01992 763 162
Twitter: @DrFunkeB
Skype: drfunkeb
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