The best weight management technique to lower your risk of a deadly heart attack
Is your body storing excess calories? This may be putting your life at risk. Read on to discover the best weight loss tips shared by health experts.
The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) mission is to “end heartbreak from heart and circulatory diseases”.
People can gain weight (and body fat) when they eat more calories than they burn off.
Did you know that 28 percent of adults in the UK are considered obese – could you be one of them? Measure your BMI (body mass index) here.
“Being overweight can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries,” stated the BHF.
For clarification, arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood to your organs.
“If the arteries that carry blood to your heart get damaged and clogged, it can lead to a heart attack,” BHF explained.
High levels of visceral fat surrounding the internal organs can do all of the following:
- Raise blood cholesterol
- Increase blood pressure
- Increase risk of type 2 diabetes
All of these are risk factors closely linked with heart troubles, so it’s vital for your health to lose fat.
The charity said people who are considered “apple” shaped – who carry excess weight around their middle – are at high risk of health concerns.
To lose weight, “the best way to do this is to start with small changes”.
Senior dietician Victoria Taylor shares her top tips for weight management.
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Taylor recommends “eating breakfast” every morning, as this will make you less likely to snack on fatty and sugar snacks throughout the day.
“Studies have shown that people who have a regular breakfast tend to be slimmer than those who don’t,” she added.
Making a grocery list is also advisable to help resist temptation when food shopping.
Planning healthy meals throughout the week – and sticking to them – is a handy weight management technique.
“Even healthy food contains calories,” warned Taylor, “so if your portions are too big, you will struggle to lose weight.”
To combat overeating, Taylor suggests eating from a smaller plate or bowl to help you cut down without feeling deprived.
Taylor isn’t a fan of “food fads” either, saying diets may help someone shed pounds in the short term, but it’s unlikely to have lasting effects.
Instead, “make changes that you can stick to every day” recommends Taylor.
This could be as simple as using low-fat spreads and drinking skimmed milk.
Persistence is key, but try not to feel too disheartened if you have days where it’s difficult to keep to your plans.
“Don’t think that this means you have to write off that day completely and give up,” advises Taylor.
“Learn from it and get straight back on track,” she encouraged. And, of course, make sure you’re moving your body.
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