Excess weight bad for the heart/80% of women 'can't bear reflection'

[Guest guest]

Excess weight bad for the heart

December 2, 2004

 

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11563988%255E1702,00.html

 

EXCESS kilos are bad for young hearts.

 

A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Heart

Foundation has identified a link between overweight and obesity and coronary

heart disease in young to middle aged adults.

 

The Heart Foundation's chief executive Dr Lyn Roberts said more research was

needed on the link in older people.

 

" It definitely shows the link between coronary heart disease and overweight

and obesity and it also shows an association between overweight and obesity

and cardiovascular disease in young and middle aged adults, " Dr Roberts

said.

 

" There still are quite a lot of gaps in our knowledge and understanding

around the impact of overweight and obesity and I just don't think we've

necessarily got the right level of information on older people just like

with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people of low socio-economic

backgrounds. "

 

The report reviewed 270 studies worldwide which also point to a link between

excess body weight and risk factors for high blood pressure, high

cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and other conditions.

 

Dr Roberts said the growing number of obese Australians was at epidemic

levels and would present major health challenges.

 

" We're particularly concerned as are many of our other NGO (non-government

organisation) colleagues and government and the community are concerned

about the increasing level of overweight and obesity in the community, " Dr

Roberts said.

 

" It's clear that this is going to be a major public health issue in the

future and is already a major concern.

 

" We just know that there is such a strong connection between overweight and

obesity and a range of chronic diseases of which heart attack and angina are

part. "

 

Dr Roberts said there were no simple solutions but anyone with a weight

problem should consult their doctor, try to exercise regularly and balance

their food intake.

 

" Getting people to change their behaviour and to manage their weight in the

first instance so they don't put on excess weight and then to be able to

successfully lose excess weight is quite a challenging and difficult thing, "

she said.

 

AAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

80pc of women 'can't bear reflection'

November 30, 2004

 

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11535317%255E13762,00.html

 

EIGHT out of ten women are so unhappy with their bodies they avoid looking

in the mirror, a survey has revealed.

 

 

 

 

Influence... models like Gemma Jones make many women unhappy

with their own bodies, a study has found.

 

 

 

Women say they are most concerned about their hips, legs, breasts and

bottoms, according to the research.

 

The survey was commissioned in the light of concerns that women's unease

with their bodies could make them unwilling to discuss health issues.

 

Nearly half said their face was their favourite body part and their bottom

was the least favourite.

 

Eighty per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds said pictures of models such as

Australian Gemma Ward made them feel they should be thinner. That figure

dropped to 35 per cent among the over-30s.

 

The Body Truths Survey, to be published in the January edition of the

British version of Marie Claire magazine, also found that a worrying

proportion of women remain ill-informed about breast cancer.

 

Nearly a quarter were looking for the wrong symptoms or failing to check

their breasts often enough.

 

Garry Richards, co-ordinator for the University of Western Sydney's Self

Research centre, said the research connected with studies done here.

 

He said from as young as 12 females begin to worry about their image and are

fearful of displaying their bodies, often trying to avoid PE classes at

school.

 

" As females grow, despite the fact hips are getting bigger and breasts are

growing, the image society is thrusting upon them is slender and svelte, " Mr

Richards said.

 

" Most dramatically this impacts on health when they become bulimic and/or

anorexic. "

 

He said men are able to remain in denial, often distorting their body image

in their minds.

 

" For females every day it's a negative for them, they're constantly trying

to get it right and they don't want to be too exposed if they don't get it

right, " Mr Richards.

 

" For males it doesn't matter, they all think they are Adonis. "

 

Other research has shown that women are 10 times more likely than men to

think they are fat.

 

A study by lifestyle web-site handbag.com revealed that one in five feel

uncomfortable undressing in front of husbands or boyfriends.

 

But as the pursuit of physical perfection intensifies - with demand for

cosmetic surgery and spending on beauty products at record levels - women's

bodies are getting bigger.

 

Although bust and hip sizes have fallen, the average waist has increased by

7.5cm in 50 years to more than 75cm, and is expected to hit 80cm in the next

50 years.

 

The average woman's weight is up by 10kg to 65kg, with predictions of

another 10kg by 2054. This is largely due to a less healthy diet.

 

The Daily Telegraph