Every Day Health Clinic: GP

Showing posts with label GP. Show all posts

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

How To Deal With Colic – And Give Your Baby Some Relief

As a parent, the chances that you’ll come across colic are pretty high. The condition is common – affecting around 20 per cent of babies.

Generally involving a lot of tears and fussiness, it’s not very nice to watch as your baby may seem like he’s in pain – even though he isn’t.

Colic Affects A Fifth Of Babies [Rex]

What Is Colic?
Colic is the term used when your baby cries excessively, for no apparent reason. It occurs in both boys and girls and in babies that are breast and bottle-fed and there aren't thought to be any long-term effects to their health.

It’s not known what causes it, but some experts think it could be a result of indigestion, trapped wind or sensitivity to some proteins and sugars found in breast milk and formula.

What Are The Symptoms?
There are lots of signs for colic – making it tricky to diagnose. But non-stop crying is definitely the biggest indication.

“It’s often classified as crying for more than three hours a day at a time,” says Theresa Bishop, professional lead for health visiting for Warwickshire.

“It often starts in the evening from around two months and has commonly resolved by four months of age.”

Familiarise Yourself With The Numerous Symptoms Of Colic [Rex]

Other symptoms of colic include:

•   Crying for long periods of time
•   Crying at the same time each day
•   Symptoms showing after eating
•   Symptoms starting and stopping abruptly
•   Symptoms that stop after a bowel movement or passing wind
•   Lots of spit up
•   Signs of gas like bloated stomach
•   Arched back, pulls knees to chest, clenches fists, flails arms and legs
•   Disrupted sleep patterns

How To Treat Colic At Home
There are lots of home remedies that you can try out to soothe and calm your baby.

“Some babies love being close to their parent and the use of a soft baby carrier can be soothing,” says Theresa. “If you decide to use one of these, ensure you use the T.I.C.K.S. checklist to ensure your baby is kept safe.”

Infacol is another great way to relieve your baby’s pain and can be given to him before a feed. “It helps the bubbles in your baby’s tummy to join together and be eliminated more effectively,” says Theresa.

When colic is diagnosed, some parents find the use of colief helpful. “Some babies can be sensitive to lactase and giving colief before a feed will help your baby to break down the lactase,” Theresa explains.

Another option is a baby massage, which can help your baby relax and sleep – as well as providing relief.

Your local Children Centre or your health visitor may be able to recommend a local session or show you how to give your baby one yourself.

You can also ring the colic helpline on CRY-SIS 08451 228669 for tips on calming your baby, which is open from 9am to 10pm.

When To See The GP
If you think your baby has colic, it’s best that you take him to his doctor to make sure that’s what it is.

There are some other conditions that cause extensive crying, including eczema and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, so it’s safest to get those ruled out.

“You should trust your gut instinct as a parent,” says Theresa. “You are the expert of your baby. If you feel something is not right you can contact your GP or health visitor to discuss any concerns.”

A number of signs and symptoms suggest that your baby is seriously ill, and he’s not just suffering from colic.

“It’s recommended that you seek immediate medical advice if your baby is giving a weak, high-pitched continuous cry, seems floppy when lifted, has a fever of 38C or above, has breathing problems or has experienced a seizure,” says Theresa.

Other symptoms to watch out for include blood in your baby’s poo, a stiff neck, green sick, a spotty, purple-red rash and any sign of turning blue, blotchy or very pale. If you can’t get hold of your GP, call NHS 111 for advice.

Remember that colic is unavoidable and isn’t a result of anything you’ve done wrong – so don’t beat yourself up for being a bad parent. Yes, it’s tough to get through but keep in your mind that it is just a phase and your baby will be back to his usual smiley self soon.
https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/how-to-deal-with-colic-%E2%80%93-and-give-your-baby-some-relief-122359744.html

Thursday, 7 May 2015

NICE: 'Obese should be prescribed slimming clubs'

A short-term investment in tackling obesity could save the NHS billions in the long-term

“GPs told to prescribe £100 slimming courses for millions of obese patients,” the Daily Mail reports.

The news is based on new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that aim to encourage sustainable weight loss in the obese; “lose a little, and keep it off”.

The guidance is mainly aimed at commissioners (who plan and agree which services will be provided in the NHS and monitor them), health professionals and groups who provide lifestyle weight management programmes. The recommendations may also be of interest to members of the public, including people who are overweight or obese.

The guidance has been issued because being overweight or obese is a common and important health problem in the UK. In 2012 about a quarter of men and women aged 16 and over in England had a body mass index (BMI) over 30, classified as obese.

In addition, 42% of men and 32% of women were categorised as overweight (BMI of 25 to 30). Life expectancy is estimated to be reduced by an average of two to four years for people with a BMI of 30 to 35, and eight to 10 years for a BMI of 40 to 50.

The cost of obesity to society was estimated to be almost £16 billion in 2007, which is predicted to rise to £50 billion by 2050 if obesity levels continue to rise.

NICE has estimated that across the population, a 12-week weight management program me costing £100 or less for people who are overweight or obese would be cost-effective if they were to lose at least 1kg and keep the weight off for life.

What are the main recommendations?

NICE recommends that local authorities and clinical commissioning groups should provide access for people to be referred to a range of lifestyle weight management schemes.

GPs, practice nurses, health visitors, pharmacists and the local adult population should be informed of what services are available locally. And they are advised to use informed advice from the NHS Choices website on weight management.

GPs, health and social care professionals are advised to raise the issue of weight loss for overweight and obese adults in a non-judgemental way. They should consider referring adults of any age to local programmes. They should take the person’s preferences into account. but choose group programmes where possible as they provide better value for money. The programmes should be able to show that at least 60% of people are likely to complete them and that they are likely to lead to an average loss of at least 3% of body weight, with a minimum of 30% of people losing 5% of their initial weight.

People should be referred who have:

BMI over 30 (or lower for people from black and minority ethnic groups as they have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes), or people with other risk factors such as already having diabetes
BMI between 25 to 30 if there is enough local resource

GPs, health and social care professionals and providers of lifestyle weight management services should be trained to deliver multicomponent programmes, tailored to the individual needs of the person. The programmes should have been developed by a multidisciplinary team including a registered dietician, registered psychologist and qualified physical activity instructor. The programme should be collaborative, and cover:

dietary habits
safe physical activity
strategies to achieve behaviour change
prevention of weight regain

Commissioners and local authorities should regularly monitor the provision of services and how effective they have been in helping people to lose weight to ensure that the measures are working and are providing good value for money (are cost effective). This includes collecting outcomes such as:

the percentage of people losing more than 3% or 5% of their baseline weight
how the weight changes in the 12 months after the programme is completed
changes in other outcomes such as blood pressure

What are the main benefits of weight loss?

The more weight that is lost, the greater the benefits – especially if a person is able to lose 5% to 10% of their body weight, and maintain it. However, even losing just 3% body weight if obese or overweight can be beneficial.

Weight loss reduces the risk of:

diabetes – obese women are 13 times more likely and obese men are five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
high blood pressure – obese women are four times more likely and obese men are more than twice as likely to have hypertension
mental health problems such as depression – often due to stigma and bullying or discrimination
difficulties in conceiving
certain types of cancer
heart disease
stroke
osteoarthritis
back pain

What are the dangers of rapid weight loss?

Setting realistic goals for weight loss is an important part of the NICE recommendations. This is to ensure a steady rate of weight loss within safe limits, and to increase chances that the weight loss can be maintained, rather than having weight regain.

The dangers of rapid weight loss include feeling tired and unwell, as well as the potential for more serious complications such as malnutrition and gallstones. The recommended safe level of weight loss to aim for is between 0.5kg and 1kg per week.

The NHS weight loss plan

promotes safe and sustainable weight loss
helps you learn how to make healthier food choices
provides support from our online community
offers a weekly progress chart
presents an exercise plan to help you lose weight
hopefully allows you to learn skills to prevent regaining weight

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/05May/Pages/NICE-Obese-should-be-prescribed-slimming-clubs.aspx

Friday, 3 April 2015

Lower your cholesterol

Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise can help lower the level of cholesterol in your blood.

Adopting healthy habits, such as eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising, will also help prevent your cholesterol levels from becoming high in the first place.

It's important to keep cholesterol in check because high cholesterol levels increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

If you're concerned about your cholesterol, talk to your GP.

Foods containing cholesterol

Some foods contain cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is called dietary cholesterol. Foods such as kidneys, eggs and prawns are higher in dietary cholesterol than other foods.

The cholesterol found in food has much less of an effect on the level of cholesterol in your blood than the amount of saturated fat that you eat.

If your GP has advised you to change your diet to reduce your blood cholesterol, the most important thing to do is to cut down on saturated fat. It's also a good idea to increase your intake of fruit, vegetables and fibre.

Fats and cholesterol

There are two main types of fat – saturated and unsaturated. Eating foods that are high in saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels in the blood. Most people in the UK eat too much saturated fat.

Foods high in saturated fat include:

meat pies
sausages and fatty cuts of meat
butter
ghee
lard
cream
hard cheese
cakes and biscuits
foods containing coconut or palm oil

Eating foods that contain unsaturated fat instead of saturated fat can actually help reduce cholesterol levels.

Try to replace foods containing saturated fats with foods that are high in unsaturated fats, such as:

oily fish (such as mackerel and salmon)
nuts (such as almonds and cashews)
seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin)
vegetable oils and spreads (such as sunflower, olive, corn, walnut and rapeseed oils)

Trans fats can also raise cholesterol levels. Trans fats can be found naturally at low levels in some foods, such as those from animals, including meat and dairy products.

Artificial trans fats can be found in hydrogenated fat, so some processed foods such as biscuits and cakes will contain trans fats.

As part of a healthy diet, try to cut down on foods containing trans fats or saturated fats and replace them with foods containing unsaturated fats.

You should also reduce the total amount of fat in your diet. Try microwaving, steaming, poaching, boiling or grilling instead of roasting or frying. Choose lean cuts of meat and go for low-fat varieties of dairy products and spreads, or eat just a small amount of full-fat varieties.

Fibre and cholesterol

There are two different types of fibre – soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. Most foods contain a mixture of both.

Soluble fibre can be digested by your body (insoluble fibre cannot), and it may help reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood.

Good sources of soluble fibre include:

oats
beans
peas
lentils
chickpeas
fruit and vegetables

Try to include more of these foods in your diet. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Find out more about eating 5 A DAY.

Cholesterol-lowering products

There's evidence that foods containing certain added ingredients, such as plant sterols and stanols, can reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Sterols and stanols can be found in specially developed products, such as some spreads and yoghurts.

These foods are aimed at people who need to lower their cholesterol levels. People who don't have high cholesterol shouldn't eat these products regularly, particularly children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If your doctor has told you that you have high cholesterol, you can lower it by changing your diet without having to eat special products.

If you do eat foods that are designed to lower cholesterol, read the label carefully to avoid eating too much.

Get active

An active lifestyle can also help lower cholesterol levels. Activities can range from walking and cycling to more vigorous exercise, such as running and dancing.

Doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week can improve your cholesterol levels.

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means you're working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat.

One way to tell whether you're working at a moderate intensity is if you can still talk but you can't sing the words to a song

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhearts/Pages/Cholesterol.aspx

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Keep weight off

If you've achieved your target weight, well done! But don't undo all the good work by reverting to old habits.

The effects of quick-fix diets often don't last, as many people fall back into old eating and activity habits after the weight is lost. If you find your weight is going back up again, it's time to take action.

How to keep weight off

The key to reaching your ideal weight and keeping the weight off is to make long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle that you can stick to for life.
The following tips are likely to help keep weight off:

Stick to lower-calorie eating. A lower-fat, higher-protein diet has been shown to help maintain weight loss for some people. This could be because protein-rich meals make you feel fuller more quickly, making you less likely to snack between meals.
Plan ahead. Maintain your healthier eating habits regardless of changes in your routine, such as eating out, weekends or holidays. By planning ahead, you're less likely to slip up.
Eat breakfast. Research shows that breakfast can help people control their weight. Having breakfast can help you avoid getting too hungry and snacking later on.
Stay active. Build up your physical activity levels – if you've already been walking regularly, think about walking for longer, or start running.
Watch your weight. Weigh yourself regularly so you can keep a close eye on any changes to your weight.
Get support. If you have talked to a health professional about your weight in the past, make sure you go back regularly to get support from them.
Keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life, so if you feel yourself slipping back into old ways, mix things up a bit. Buy a new healthy cookbook, sign up for a healthy cooking course or try a new activity.
Set yourself goals. These can help motivate you into keeping up your healthy diet and exercise regime. For example, is there a special occasion coming up that you want to feel your best for?

What should I eat now?

As a guide, the average man needs about 2,500 calories and the average woman needs 2,000 calories a day to maintain their weight. If you've been eating a lower calorie diet and you've now reached a healthy weight, you may want to increase your calorie intake. But do it by small amounts to avoid putting on weight again and remember to keep active.

More weight to lose?

"When we look at people who lose weight successfully, the lessons are clear," says Dr Andrew Brewster, a GP with a special interest in obesity and weight management. "A combination of diet changes and changes to their level of physical activity is the best method. The key is making small changes that you can keep for life, rather than drastic changes that you only stick to for a few weeks.
"You don't need to achieve a healthy weight overnight. Losing even a few kilos can make a huge difference to the health of someone who is overweight."
You can check the weight range that is healthy for you by using our Healthy weight calculator. Set a realistic target. Give yourself enough time to work towards your goal – the safe rate of weight loss is between 1lb and 2lb (0.5kg and 1kg) a week.
Download the new NHS 12-week weight loss guide.

Healthy food swaps

To start, you might decide to swap just one high-calorie snack a day with something healthier. For example, you could have a smoothie or a piece of fruit instead of a morning pastry. Or you could choose a drink that's lower in fat, sugar or alcohol and therefore contains fewer calories. For example, you could swap a sugary, fizzy drink for sparkling water with a slice of lemon.
You can learn more about small, healthy changes to your diet by reading Healthy food swaps. On the whole, eating less while maintaining a balanced diet and being more active will keep the weight off.
You can also find lots of information on eating a healthy, balanced diet in Food and diet.

Exercise

When it comes to physical activity, find ways to fit more movement into your day. It's recommended that adults between 19 and 64 get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity – such as fast walking or cycling – every week. If you are new to activity you should try to build up to this amount gradually. For more information, see Physical activity guidelines for adults.
Being physically active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. People who do regular activity have a lower risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and stroke.
For many, brisk walking is a great way to fit activity into daily life. Learn more in The 10,000 steps challenge.
There's more information and advice on getting active in Fitness.

Stick to the changes

Once you've identified the lifestyle changes you want to make, give yourself time to make them part of your life.
At some point, the weight loss that results from these changes will stop and your weight will stabilise. But it's important to remember that if you want to maintain your new, healthier weight, you need to stick to the changes.
"This is where many people slip up," says Dr Brewster. "They feel as though the changes they've made 'aren't working any more', and so they go back to old habits. In fact, the changes are working, as they are keeping you at your new weight. If you let go of them, you'll put weight back on.
"Really get those changes set into your lifestyle. Once you've done that and your weight has stayed the same for a while, if you're still not a healthy weight you can think about another set of small changes.
"That's the step-by-step method that will give you the best chance of achieving a healthy weight long term."

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/keep-weight-off.aspx

Friday, 6 March 2015

Fertility tests

If you've tried unsuccessfully to get pregnant for a year or more through regular unprotected sex, it’s time to see your GP. If you're a woman over 35, or if you think that either partner may have a fertility problem, see your GP after six months of trying. A fertility problem could be because you've had surgery that may have affected your reproductive organs, or because you've had a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia, that may have damaged your fertility.

Many couples with fertility problems go on to conceive, with or without fertility treatment.

What to expect

If you make an appointment to see your GP because you're having trouble becoming pregnant, they will ask how long you’ve been trying. If it's been less than a year or you haven’t been having unprotected sex regularly, and there is no reason to suspect you may have a fertility problem, your GP may recommend you keep trying for a while to see if you conceive naturally. Having regular sex means having sex every two or three days throughout the month. You can find out more about maximising your chances of getting pregnant.

If you've been having regular unprotected sex for more than a year, your GP may recommend a range of tests to determine what's stopping you from conceiving.

Fertility tests

This page lists some of the most common initial fertility tests. Your GP can refer you for these tests, which will usually happen in hospital or at a fertility clinic.

Sperm test

In about one-third of cases, fertility problems are due to the male partner. Sometimes, a lack of sperm or sperm that are not moving properly can cause a failure to conceive. Your GP can arrange a sperm test. The male partner will be asked to produce a sperm sample and take it for analysis, probably at your local hospital.

Blood tests to check ovulation

Levels of hormones in a woman's blood are closely linked to ovulation, when the ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tubes. Hormone imbalances can cause ovulation problems, and a blood test can help determine whether this is happening. Going through a phase of not having periods, or having irregular periods, are also signs of ovulation problems. The most common cause of ovulation problems is polycystic ovary syndrome.

Test for chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK. It can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems. Your GP can refer you for a test for chlamydia. This can be a urine test or a swab from the urethra (the tube from which urine passes) or the neck of the cervix.

Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan can be carried out to check the woman's ovaries, womb and fallopian tubes. In a transvaginal ultrasound scan, which takes place in hospital, a small ultrasound probe is placed in the vagina. This scan can help doctors check the health of your ovaries and womb. Certain conditions that can affect the womb, such as endometriosis and fibroids, can prevent pregnancy from occurring. The scan can also check for blockages in your fallopian tubes (the tubes that connect the ovaries and the womb), which may be stopping eggs from travelling along the tubes and into the womb. The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) estimates that around one-third of women with fertility problems have blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.

X-ray of fallopian tubes

This is called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Opaque dye is injected through the cervix while you have an X-ray. The dye will help your doctors to see if there are any blockages in your fallopian tubes. Blockages can prevent eggs passing down the tubes to the womb, and so stop pregnancy occurring. Find out more about testing for and diagnosing infertility problems.

What's next?

In around 80% of cases of persistent failure to become pregnant, these tests will uncover a cause. In the remaining 20% of cases, no clear cause can be found.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/fertility-tests.aspx

Friday, 20 February 2015

Strength exercises

Strength exercises like these can be done at home to help improve your health and mobility.

Don't worry if you've not done much for a while, these strength exercises are gentle and easy to follow.

For these chair-based exercises, choose a chair that is stable, solid and without wheels.

You should be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor and knees bent at right angles. Avoid chairs with arms, as this will restrict your movement.

Build up slowly and aim to gradually increase the repetitions of each exercise over time.

Try to do these exercises at least twice a week and combine them with the other routines in this series to help improve strength, balance and co-ordination.

hEALTH

Sit-to-stand

This exercise is good for improving leg strength.

A. Sit on the edge of the chair, feet hip-width apart. Lean slightly forwards.

B. Stand up slowly using your legs, not arms. Keep looking forward and don't look down.

C. Stand upright before slowly sitting down, bottom-first.

Aim for five repetitions – the slower the better.

Mini-squats

A. Rest your hands on the back of the chair for stability and stand with your feet hip-width apart.

B. Slowly bend your knees as far as is comfortable, keeping them facing forwards. Aim to get them over your big toe. Keep your back straight at all times.

C. Gently come up to standing, squeezing your buttocks as you do so.

Repeat five times.

Calf raises

A. Rest your hands on the back of a chair for stability.

B. Lift both heels off the floor as far as is comfortable. The movement should be slow and controlled. Repeat five times.

To make this more difficult, perform the exercise without support.

Sideways leg lift

A. Rest your hands on the back of a chair for stability.

B. Raise your left leg to the side as far as is comfortable, keeping your back and hips straight. Avoid tilting to the right.

C. Return to the starting position. Now raise your right leg to the side as far as possible.

Raise and lower each leg five times.

Leg extension

A. Rest your hands on the back of a chair for stability.

B. Standing upright, raise your left leg backwards, keeping it straight. Avoid arching your back as you take your leg back. You should feel the effort in the back of your thigh and bottom.

C. Repeat with the other leg.

Hold the lift for up to five seconds and repeat five times with each leg.

Wall press-up

A. Stand arm's length from the wall. Place your hands flat against the wall at chest level with your fingers pointing upwards.

B. With your back straight, slowly bend your arms keeping your elbows by your side. Aim to close the gap between you and the wall as much as you can.

C. Slowly return to the start.

Attempt three sets of five to 10 repetitions.

Bicep curls

A. Hold a pair of light weights (filled water bottles will do) and stand with your feet hip-width apart.

B. Keeping your arms by your side, slowly bend them until the weight in your hand reaches your shoulder.

C. Slowly lower again.

This can also be carried out while sitting. Attempt three sets of five curls with each arm.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/strength-exercises-for-older-people.aspx

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

How To Deal With Colic – And Give Your Baby Some Relief

Sunday, 8 February 2015

What's your BMI?

Body mass index (BMI) is a good way to check if you're a healthy weight. Use our healthy weight calculator to find out your BMI, and get helpful information and advice.

For adults, BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

For children aged two and over, BMI centile is used. This is a measure of whether the child is a healthy weight for their height, age and sex.

If you have a BMI above the healthy range you are at raised risk of the serious health problems linked to being overweight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. In children, BMI centile indicates whether the child is a healthy weight.

You can go straight to information on:

Who can use BMI and BMI centile?

BMI is the best assessment of weight in adults, and BMI centile is the best assessment for children aged two and over.

Some adults who have a lot of muscle may have a BMI above the healthy range. For example, professional rugby players can have an "obese" BMI result despite having very little body fat. However, this will not apply to most people.

BMI for adults

BMI takes into account that people come in different shapes and sizes. That's why a range of BMIs is considered healthy for an adult of any given height.

A BMI above the healthy range indicates that you're heavier than is healthy for your height.

The ranges below only apply to adults. BMI results are interpreted differently for children.

BMI below 18.5: a score this low means that you may be underweight. There are a number of possible reasons for this. Your GP can help you find out more, and achieve a healthy weight.You can learn more by reading Nutrition for underweight adults.
BMI between 18.5-24.9: this is a healthy range. It shows that you're a healthy weight for your height. However, it's still important to eat a healthy, balanced diet and include physical activity in your daily life if you want to maintain a healthy weight.
BMI score of 25 or more: your BMI is above the ideal range and this score means you may be overweight. This means that you're heavier than is healthy for someone of your height. Excess weight can put you at increased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It’s time to take action. See the section below for the next step, and learn more in our Lose weight section.
BMI of 30 or more: a BMI above 30 is classified as obese. Being obese puts you at a raised risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Losing weight will bring significant health improvements, and your GP can help. See the section below and learn more inLose weight.

Ethnicity, BMI and diabetes risk

New BMI advice was issued in July 2013 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to south Asian and Chinese adults, who have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than white populations. These groups are advised to maintain a BMI lower than the standard 25.

The advice is:

BMI of 23: Asians with a BMI score of 23 or more are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
BMI of 27.5: Asians with a BMI of 27.5 or more are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Although the evidence is less clear-cut, black people and other minority groups are also advised to maintain a BMI below 25 to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.

If you're overweight

If your BMI shows that you're overweight or obese it's time to take action. There’s lots of information, advice and support on NHS Choices that can help you.

Lose weight has information and advice on achieving a healthy weight
Food and diet contains information and advice on healthy eating
Health and fitness is full of fun and practical ideas to help you get into shape

Your GP or practice nurse can also offer advice on lifestyle changes, and may refer you to a weight loss group or discuss other treatments. Find out more in How your GP can help.

They may also measure your waist circumference. This can provide further information on your risk of certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. You can learn more by reading Why body shape matters.

Why lose weight?

For adults who are overweight or obese, losing even a little excess weight has health benefits. You’ll lower your risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Weight loss can also improve back and joint pain. Most people feel better when they lose excess weight.

The key is to make small, long-lasting changes to your lifestyle. If you are overweight or obese, changing your lifestyle so that you eat fewer calories can help you to become a healthier weight. Combining these changes with increased physical activity is the best approach.

To start with, you can cut down on excess calories by swapping high-calorie meals and snacks for healthier alternatives. Read Healthy food swaps to learn more.

Physical activity is an important part of losing weight, as long as it is combined with eating fewer calories. The amount of physical activity that is recommended depends on your age. Adults aged between 19 and 64 should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity – such as fast walking or cycling – a week. Adults who are overweight are likely to need to do more than this to lose weight. If it's been a while since you've done any activity you should aim to build up to this recommendation gradually. Find out more in Benefits of exercise.

For more ideas on how to get you and your family active, visitChange4Life.

Height and weight chart

You can also use the height and weight chart to check if you're a healthy weight for your height. The chart is only suitable for adult men and women.

BMI for children

BMI results are interpreted differently for children.

When interpreting BMI for a child, health professionals look at a child's weight in relation to their height, age and sex. The result is called the child’s BMI centile. BMI centile is a good way of telling whether a child is a healthy weight, and is used by healthcare professionals.

Using your child’s BMI centile, a healthcare professional can tell whether they're growing as expected. You may have done something similar when your child was a baby, using the growth charts in the Personal Child Health Record ("red book").

Once your child’s BMI centile has been calculated, they will be in one of four categories:

underweight: below 2nd BMI centile
healthy weight: between the 2nd and 90th BMI centile
overweight: between 91st and to 97th BMI centile
obese: at or above 98th BMI centile. This BMI centile category is called "very overweight" in letters that are sent by the National Child Measurement Programme.

Most children should fall in the healthy weight range. A BMI at or above the 91st centile is likely to indicate your child has an increased risk of obesity-related health problems.

Some medical conditions or treatments may mean that BMI centile is not the best way to measure whether your child is a healthy weight. Your GP or other health professional can discuss this with you.

If your child is overweight

Research shows that children who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of ill health during childhood and in later life. If your child is overweight, it’s time to take action.

A GP or practice nurse can give advice and support on helping your child achieve a healthy weight as they grow. Find out more in When your child is overweight.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/BodyMassIndex.aspx