Obesity affects six different types of people, researchers say

[Surya Gayatri]

Dealing with distinct groups differently could lead to better use of scarce NHS funds and help people lose weight more easily, study suggests.


Anyone with a body mass index of 30 or more is classed as obese, but this measure does not take account of demography, health or behaviour. Photograph: Alamy

In a study, the researchers break down those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more into distinct groups – heavy drinking men, young healthy women, unhappy and anxious middle-aged, affluent and healthy older people, physically sick but happy older people, and those with the poorest health.



The researchers used self-reported data from more than 4,000 people between the ages of 16 and 85, collected in the 2010-12 wave of the continuing Yorkshire Health Study.

Health variables included chronic conditions such as fatigue, pain, insomnia, depression, heart disease, arthritis, stroke or cancer. Wellbeing was measured, as were behaviours such as whether the person smoked, the amount of alcohol people consumed in a week and whether they walked for more than an hour a week.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/18/obesity-affects-six-different-types-of-people-study

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“In the future, we hope that GPs will keep in mind these six groups when offering advice to their patients.”

Good initiative to face this epidemic head on.

[brer cat]

1. Thanks for posting this article, Surya Gayatri.

My daughter is obese and I am always interested in reading new research. This part is so important:

"We are all different and different health approaches work for different people."

K&R

[Surya Gayatri]

2. You're welcome. I too have had weight issues since adolescence.

There must be a better way!