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Fight the flab this summer by being more active

26 June 2003

Hardly a day goes by without another worrying report on the growing numbers of obese people, in the UK today. As many as two thirds of British men and over half of all British women are now overweight and one in five is obese. This indicates that most diets aren't working, with only one in 100 people who go on a diet managing to keep the weight off permanently. Despite this high level of failure, 34 million Britons spent over £10 billion trying to lose weight in the last year.*

Recent reports also suggest that overweight people may soon be asked to sign agreements with their doctors to take more exercise and eat more healthily in return for their GPs providing treatment.

Dr Paula Franklin one of Bupa Insurance's doctors comments: " Most diets don't result in permanent weight loss. Going on a 'diet' is ineffective in the long term and can be unhealthy - traditionally slimming is about dieting and deprivation - and failure. Ingredients and calories on convenience food packs can be confusing and deceptive. Low fat foods often don't declare that they are high sugar, for instance. As obvious as it may seem, it's best to lose weight gradually by increasing the amount of activity in your everyday life and adopting healthier eating habits rather than following a formulaic diet or eating pre-packed low calorie meals."

Bupa has put together some exercise tips on how to burn off those calories this summer:

• Housework - Don't underestimate the benefits of housework. Try some vigorous vacuuming and run up and downstairs with things that need to be put away. Washing and waxing the car can use up to 300 calories an hour, and washing your windows another 200, whilst getting down to the ironing that you have been ignoring can burn up a further 120 calories.
• Gardening is excellent for strengthening muscles especially the legs, arms and tummy area. Tackle the jobs that have needed doing for months this summer - raking up grass or leaves from the garden can certainly work up a sweat.
• Mowing is the best calorie burner - you could use up to 500 calories an hour doing this, followed by 400 calories for a stint of digging and as much as 300 calories when weeding!
• Walking - Small amounts of moderate exercise such as regular walking can greatly benefit overall fitness from easing stress to lowering blood pressure. Try walking to the shops rather than taking the car and carry the shopping home again - the extra weight of the bags will help tone arms and backs. And what about taking the family dog out for a walk, but make sure you do some walking and don't just watch your pet going for a run.

Unless you are fit, remember that it's important to take a break after 20 minutes to help make sure you don't suffer an injury. Start by doing some simple warm up exercises to begin and take some stretching breaks during prolonged stints in the garden. Make sure to bend the knees and keep the back straight when lifting.

The most successful way to take exercise is to choose an activity that you enjoy, as that way you are far more likely to stick to it. If you aren't that keen on the gym for example then perhaps a dance class or a team sport would suit you better.

Dr Paula Franklin continues: "Many insurers charge overweight people more to reflect the higher risk. We don't. But we do think it is important to encourage our customers to lead an active lifestyle because the health benefits for doing so are huge."

For further information please contact: Camilla Saunders/Elaine Finch
Bupa Corporate Communications
020 7656 2290/2291

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