What do we mean by Weight Problems?

We live in a society that makes it difficult for people to control their weight. Instead, we are persuaded to eat more and to be less active. Technology has changed both our working lives and our leisure time in recent years in so many ways, too, taking the effort out of labour and enjoyment.

Given that, as a species, we are designed to use a great deal of energy in the pursuit of the necessities of life, and to replenish that energy as completely as possible, it’s little wonder that so many people are overweight to the extent that their health, both physical and mental, is threatened. It is said that, in the UK, the number of people who are seriously overweight (obese) has tripled since 1985.

The same society also promotes thinness as a requirement for happiness and success, particularly in women. The fashion industry sometimes tries to encourage a body image that, for the vast majority of people, is impossible to achieve.

Many people have become passionate about losing weight, either because they are concerned about their health or about their appearance, and for most of them, the solution is to go on a ‘diet’ – strictly speaking, a weight-reducing diet. Yet for many, this is where the problems start. Diets, particularly ‘quick-fix’ diets, are often not effective, and those whose diets do work in the first place often find they put the weight right back on if they ‘break’ the diet.