LighterLife and the National Obesity Forum Launch The UK Obesity Barometer

HARLOW, England, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LighterLife and the National Obesity Forum have launched The UK Obesity Barometer to track weight gain in the UK.

The UK Obesity Barometer shows that around 1.2 million people in the UK moved into the 'overweight' or 'obese' category over the festive season* pushing levels to a new high. The LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer shows that although overweight or obese averages decreased in some regions, overall, the nation has piled on the pounds over the last few weeks. 

Whilst over one third of people questioned before the holidays in the UK were worried about putting on a few pounds over the festive season, the LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer shows that, in reality, over a million people have piled on enough weight to slip into the overweight or obese categories (Overweight Body Mass Index (BMI) = 25–29.9, Obese BMI = 30+). 

The LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer has been developed with the National Obesity Forum to track the changing rates of obesity by region across the UK throughout 2011.

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: "We all know obesity rates are rising so we are pleased to support the LighterLife UK Obesity Barometer as a way of tracking obesity levels and raising awareness in the UK.  People often put on weight at Christmas time, however it will be interesting to see how many can shift the excess pounds in the next few weeks and months. For those who have a BMI of 25 or more, they are at increased risk of health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, so it's important that the weight gained is lost. The barometer will prove invaluable to track the weight of the nation at both a regional and national level."

The barometer will highlight weight across the regions in the UK and people will be able to see how this fluctuates over this coming year.  Tips and advice for those worried about their weight are also provided with links to helpful advice on the LighterLife website.

Notes to Editors:

* ICM Research UK Obesity Survey 2011

About LighterLife:

LighterLife is a weight loss and weight-management programme for people who are one stone or more overweight and with a body mass index of 25 or above. LighterLife offers programmes specific to the obese and the overweight using nutritionally balanced soups, shakes, and bars combined with specialised counselling techniques. Clients benefit not only from rapid, safe weight loss diets but they also learn the behavioural changes needed to sustain it. 

SOURCE LighterLife