Know your body
It's been described as the health crisis of the 21st century: the worldwide epidemic of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes. Yet many people have an unhealthy obsession with body shape and dieting. So how do you find a balance?
It's important to understand that our bodies change as we age, not just in adolescence but as we mature. Loss of muscle begins as young as 30 and accelerates further from the age of 50. The rate we burn calories may slow down as we get older and we're also more likely to store fat.
But this is not an inevitable process. While we age we usually become less active and consequently start to lose muscle tissue. Less muscle means our body has to work less hard, so we need fewer calories to sustain ourselves. But if we continue to eat the same amount of food as before, we'll gain weight.
Keep active
Staying active during adulthood is the best strategy to prevent weight gain and obesity. As well as helping to stay trim exercise has all manners of associated benefits such as fitness, heart health and a lower diabetes risk
Apples & pears
Body shape can also give clues as to your health. Do you put on weight around your waistline (apple-shaped) or on your hips and thighs (pear-shaped)? Apple-shaped people are more prone to health risks such as heart disease and should tackle their weight problems more urgently.
Think before you snack
When trying to lose weight, what you eat is far more important than how much. For example, the total daily energy needs of a typical man could be met by eating just 300 grams of macadamia nuts, but he'd need to eat around five kilos of carrots to get those same 2 300 calories. Fill up with low-energy fruits, vegetables and soups to control your hunger and cut out high-energy treats such as burgers and biscuits.
Meal replacement plans can also boost your weight loss plans: research shows that they often work better than conventional diets. Slim·Fast products help you to measure your intake of energy precisely and take away the urge to snack by keeping you feeling satisfied.
