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Weight management
Your body weight represents the balance between all the energy you eat as food and all the energy you use in your daily activities. It's as simple as that, and there are no mysterious exceptions. To lose weight, your energy usage must be more than your energy intake (calories). So you can lose weight either by eating less calories, or by using more calories by being physically active. The most effective method is to make changes to both your eating and activity patterns
Being overweight is the result of many factors, from our genes to our behaviour. Modern life, in which there is so much food available and so many ways to avoid exercise, is trapping more people than ever before into gaining weight. Over half the adult population in the UK is overweight. For nearly one in five adults, their health is at risk. You can calculate your BMI which tells you if you are a healthy weight for your height, by going to our BMI page
The food you eat and the activities you do are part of your everyday habits and they are probably things you have been doing for years. It's these habits that have led you to put on the extra weight you now want to lose. To successfully control your weight long-term, you need to exchange these old habits for new ones and create a healthier way of living for life
Ten tips to start you on your way
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Try to eat regular meals (at least 3 meals a day), this will help you avoid snacking
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Choose a low-fat breakfast every day (cereal, fruit, toast, yoghurt)
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Buy low-fat alternatives when shopping (semi-skimmed milk, low-fat cheese, sugar-free or diet drinks)
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Eat more fruit and vegetables (see our Healthy Eating page)
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Trim the fat off meat and poultry
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Avoid fried food wherever possible, and limit the amount of saturated fats you add when cooking
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Eat more slowly (to give your stomach time to feel full)
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Try to avoid picking at food before and after meals
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Watch your portion sizes - try using a smaller plate
- Include some activity each day (see our Exercise for Health page)
Our Practice Nurses can provide you with help on healthy foods, sensible exercise programmes, and regular motivation to keep you on course
View a flyer about the 8 week 10% Course
, a friendly group programme run by NHS Leeds Community Healthcare Weight Management Service that helps people to make lasting dietary and activity changes with an aim to lose weight
Source: LSMP
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