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Lorely Burt MPWorking hard for Solihull |
Solihull MP throws her weight behind Obesity Campaign
September 27, 2005 12:00 AM
Lorely Burt Member of Parliament for Solihull throws her weight behind the campaign...
Solihull MP Lorely Burt today gave her full support to the National Obesity Forum's campaign to put pressure on Government, health professionals and patients to ensure a waist measurement is taken to assess abdominal obesity.
"Abdominal obesity provides the most accurate indication of the likelihood of developing serious conditions such as heart disease or diabetes," said Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull. "If health professional can obtain the most effective gauge of a patient's abdominal obesity by simply using a tape measure to measure their waist, we should be insisting that they do so."
Traditionally, doctors have used body mass index (BMI), a simple calculation based on a patient's height and weight to assess abdominal obesity. But BMI is unable to distinguish between obese patients and those who are fit with a good amount of muscle. However, waist circumference provides a much more accurate representation of abdominal obesity and the associated health risks that go with it.
"The type of fat and where it accumulates on your body is more important than the amount" says Dr David Haslam, GP and Chair of the National Obesity Forum. "Research shows that fat in the abdominal region, known medically as excess visceral fat is strongly linked to suffering a heart attack or of developing type 2 diabetes."
"We are working to get waists measured as a matter of urgency and the simple procedure incorporated into everyday clinical practice, adds Dr Haslam. "We're hoping that raising awareness will encourage a call to action among doctors and the general public."
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