| #ffffff;" /> | | | | effects of weight loss on memory; typically this is |
| It is too easy to view the Americans as a nation | | | | often very evident in the |
| of the overweight, but ignore the fact that the | | | | ‘forgotten’ 2 week binge cruise |
| citizens of the UK are heading in the same | | | | taken since the last weight check which you are |
| direction. We don’t seem to do too well in | | | | now submitting as accurate! |
| sport these days, but look set to be world | | | | So you need to remember that the more the |
| beaters for weight gain from generation to | | | | lb’s weight, the more the |
| generation. Statistics issued by a government | | | | £’s on your insurance premium. |
| department always give cause for doubt, but | | | | Critical illness cover may become too expensive |
| when you take a stroll down your local High | | | | to contemplate, or you may well avoid the |
| Street just look around. It is possible to see | | | | contemplation by being refused insurance outright. |
| indications of the justification for claims that in 18 | | | | The trouble is that if you are overweight you are |
| years time obesity will be a very major problem. | | | | more likely to face medical problems and more |
| This spells future problems for the health service, | | | | likely to need insurance, but more likely to be |
| as obesity is regarded as excess weight reaching | | | | refused, |
| the point where health problems can be the | | | | There is even a mindset now spreading in the |
| expected outcome. Even today the cost of lost | | | | NHS which scandalously suggests that obese |
| working hours, disability pay and other problems | | | | patients should not receive the same treatment |
| associated with illness due to excess weight is | | | | as anyone else i.e. replacement hip or similar |
| said to be in excess of £20 billion. Take | | | | surgery should be refused, despite the fact that |
| that 18 year leap coupled with the projected | | | | there can be no ethical basis for denying them |
| statistic that by then 1/3rd of girls and ¼ | | | | this treatment. Strange indeed that some |
| of boys will be clinically obese, and you get a | | | | overweight patients, for whom slimming does not |
| picture of a grossly unfit nation which will struggle | | | | work, find that their GPs will provide little in the |
| to meet the health demands of its inhabitants. | | | | way of treatment and seem to align themselves |
| It is generally accepted that the | | | | with the approach of 50% of hospital doctors. |
| ‘chubbier’ members of society | | | | What is it about weight which induces this |
| have to visit their medical practitioner more often | | | | negative thinking – very often it is not the |
| than do those with a lower body mass index | | | | fault of the patient and is outside their control? |
| (BMI), and that there are costs associated with | | | | What about the cause? If it is simply eating too |
| these visits. The NHS claims that obesity | | | | much or the wrong type of food (or worse still |
| problems use around £15 billion of their | | | | – both combined) the solution is in your |
| annual budget – a figure which can be | | | | own hands. You should join a slimming club to |
| expected to rise steadily for the foreseeable | | | | educate you (and your stomach) in the correct |
| future. | | | | foods and the most suitable quantities of same. |
| You can be absolutely sure that the providers of | | | | You will meet like minded folk who face the same |
| life insurance are only too well aware of these | | | | problem and will be able to provide support for |
| facts, impinging as they do on the entire purpose | | | | each other. The gentle exercise which is often |
| of the services which they provide. In fact this | | | | provided will help with fitness as well as weight |
| increased awareness is becoming manifest in their | | | | loss. |
| approach to overweight clients. They may not | | | | If you have tried this route with no success go |
| even take your word for it that although you | | | | back and talk to your GP – tell him what |
| struggled to get through their office doorway, | | | | you have tried and how it went. Talk about |
| you really do only weigh 12 ½ stone. Any | | | | possible surgical solutions to your problem if you |
| sign of a higher BMI is likely to cause a demand | | | | are prepared to contemplate this extreme route |
| for a medical check-up before insurance can be | | | | – many failed slimmers have found it to be |
| arranged; the results of this check may lead to | | | | a remarkably successful alternative. |
| refusal of cover or a seriously raised increase in | | | | Win or lose, you should start looking for a good |
| premiums. | | | | insurance broker – online is the easy way, |
| You should not be too surprised if a set of scales | | | | although it does rather lack any beneficial exercise |
| is in evidence in the insurer’s offices. They | | | | – and get your life insurance arranged. |
| do not stay in business by taking unnecessary | | | | Ensure that your policy allows for reductions in |
| risks, and an immediate weight check defines | | | | premium for reductions in weight, and then |
| your excess weight risk factor beyond dispute. | | | | imagine your pleasure when you can revisit your |
| They also have to guard against the well known | | | | broker to request just such a cost reduction! |