Fitness

Obesity is fast becoming the developed world's biggest health problem, with over 9000 deaths a year in England being caused by obesity alone, the treatment of obesity takes up 9% of the NHS budget and is increasing at an alarming rate.

Adult Obesity rates have almost quadrupled over the last 25 years, two thirds of UK adults rea now considered overweight or obese. Of these, 22% of men and 23% of women are obese. This means that they are at least 2-3 stone overweight and putting their health at risk. Figures from the national audit office indicate that being obese can take up to nine years off your lifespan. It also makes you far more likely to develop a range of health related problems.

According to the latest results of the Health and Fitness Omnibus Survey [HAFOS], over half of us want to take more exercise. Our levels of activity and our diets today are very different from those of past generations.

Increased technology means that the energy we use in physical activity has decreased – we burn 500 less calories per day than the average person 50 years ago

TV and pubs have come to dominate our free time, when we should be out jogging, kicking a ball around or just going for a walk.