The Eat Fast Slim Diet [antikvár]

FOREWORDWe are all consuming more and doing less. The food we eat is higher in energy than ever, and we are eating more of it, more often. On average we are each taking in over 500 more calories a day than we did 30 years ago. Combine this with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and we have a recipe for weight gain and ill health.In my practice I am already seeing the impact of this on my patients - and don't be lulled into thinking that this is just about the few unfortunate individuals at the extreme end of the scale who are the focus of various provocative TV documentaries on obesity. This is about the majority of the population. People with a normal body weight are now in the minority in the UK, with nearly two-thirds of us overweight or obese. And the implications for our health are enormous. Being overweight is not just about what dress size you take or being a bit "out of shape" excess weight is a major risk factor for serious and even life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.But even these significant physical consequences underestimate the full impact that the rising tide of obesity is having. In my experience the damage done beneath the surface - shrinking self-esteem, ruined relationships and thwarted ambition - is equally destructive. The resulting mental health problems then perpetuate unhealthy habits in a vicious spiral that often feels impossible to break. The cost of obesity to the NHS is a staggering L5bn each year but the true financial impact of this epidemic in terms of the country's economic development is likely to be significantly higher. And, unlike most other outbreaks of disease, this tidal wave shows little sign of subsiding.So, what is the solution? Well, contrary to popular belief the answer does not lie with the health service, government ministers or