Diabetes UK Fights Fat

Tuesday 20th April 2010

Diabetes UK and a host of other UK health groups have joined together to raise public awareness about the dangers of being overweight. Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK have launched an 'Active Fat Campaign'that they hope will encourage people to change bad lifestyle habits that could put their health at risk.The charities aim to inform people that excess fat cells that acumulate around the middle can release harmful chemicals and hormones into the body that can cause serious health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

The health groups have launched the Active Fat Campaign by publishing the results of a survey used to asses the general public's awareness of the dangers of being overweight. The study revealed that, worryingly, up to 97% of Britons are not aware that carrying excess fat around their middle could lead to the development of serious health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. 50% of particpants over estimated the width of a dangerously big waistline. And almost 75% of people who weren't in the know, were overweight and at risk. The figures are alarming as un-active fat cells around the middle can release harmful disease causing chemicals.

The organisations are now using the survey results as a springboard to campaign for change. The Campaign has three key elements - educating people of the risks of being overweight, encouraging them to make healthier choices and encouraging them to improve their health and fitness. The health groups are even taking their campaign to the European Parliament where they will lobby for changes to food labeling that will make it easier for people to make healthy choices that will fight harmful belly fat and decrease their likelihood of diabetes.

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