Weight management

Successful weight management is simply about balancing the amount of calories we take in with the amount we expend in our daily activities.

If you take in more calories than you use up, you gain weight. If you take in fewer than you use up, you lose weight. It’s that straightforward.

Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. If you are overweight, shedding the pounds could drastically improve your health and quality of life.

Your ideal weight is generally one that gives you a BMI (Body Mass Index) of between 20 and 25. Research has shown that people within this range tend to live longer and enjoy better health at every stage of life.

You can check your own Body Mass Index using our interactive BMI calculator

It’s also worth checking your waist measurements. The distribution of weight, as much as your overall weight itself, is an important factor in determining the associated health risks.

This is because people who tend to gain weight around the middle have an increased risk of developing heart disease and non-insulin diabetes.

Generally speaking, your weight is likely to be in the healthy range if your waist measures less than 80cm or 31 inches.

Finally, remember most of us put on weight over time because of our lifestyles. So the most efficient way to lose it is long-term lifestyle changes to include healthy eating and more exercise.