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Obesity

Obesity

The World Health Organisation defines overweight and obesity as a medical condition involving abnormal or excessive body fat build up, that presents a risk to health.

In Wales:

  • around 25% or 1 in 4 of adults aged 16 and over are living with obesity
  • around 12% of children in the reception year of school (aged 4 to 5 years old) are living with obesity. 

There are many complex causes and each cause can play a part. Understanding the causes of weight gain is the first step in weight management. This can help you to take action. It may be something you can do yourself or as a family.

If you have struggled with your weight or your child’s weight for some time or feel that you need extra support then your GP or health professional can help. They can help by supporting you or your child and investigating any related health problems. You can then both work out a management plan.

Weight ranges

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one way used in healthcare as a basic measure of weight and health. BMI is measured by calculating a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in metres) squared. BMI is not used on its own to diagnose obesity because other factors, such as your gender, ethnicity, body composition and age should be taken into account.

Adults

For most adults, a BMI of:

  • 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 is described as a ‘healthy’ weight range
  • 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 is described as an ‘overweight’ weight range
  • 30 kg/m2 and above is described as an ‘obese’ weight range.

You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI.

Children and Young People

Measuring BMI in children is more complicated because it changes as they grow and mature. BMI centile charts are used to show if children and young people are underweight or overweight for their age by comparing their BMI with the BMIs of other children of the same age and gender. There are different centile charts for boys and girls.

  • A BMI below the 2nd centile may reflect undernutrition, but may simply reflect a small build
  • A BMI above the 91st centile suggests an overweight weight range
  • A BMI above the 98th centile suggests a very overweight or obese weight range.

For more information on Obesity, please visit the NHS 111 Wales website. 

 

For further information please email: CTM.WISE@wales.nhs.uk or call us on 01685 351 451. Visit our website at: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/wise-ctm

Register for the WISE Service

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