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Britain
is in the grip of an obesity epidemic - and that's why the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has
launched The BIG Challenge.
The
message is simple: by making small changes to your lifestyle you
can make a BIG difference to your health.
The
Fat Nation TV series on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½1 (starts September 9, 8pm) focuses
on a Midlands street that holds a chilling message for the whole
of Britain.
More
than half the residents are overweight, and medical experts say
their weight and fitness levels are an accurate reflection of picture
of how out of shape we are across the country. The
statistics are shocking.
- Almost two thirds of the country's population are officially
fat - the highest rate of obesity in Europe - with one in four
men and one in five women grossly overweight.
- Obesity has almost quadrupled in 25 years and will soon overtake
smoking as the greatest cause of premature death.
- Already 1,000 overweight people die each week.
-
The figures for obesity among children have tripled in 20 years.
- Apart from heart disease, obesity can cause joint and bone
problems as well as diabetes. Type-two diabetes used to be associated
with older overweight adults, but now more and more children are
being diagnosed with the condition
- The
financial cost is already huge - between £3.3billion and £3.7billion
a year.
Now
the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has launched The BIG Challenge - a two-year initiative to
help us fight our collective battle with the bulge.
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| Salsa
dancing is one fun way to get fit |
Fat
Nation, the programme is just the start. As the 200 residents try
to improve their eating habits and exercise regimes, the hope is
that the rest of us will watch and be inspired to do something to
make the change to a healthier lifestyle.
Fat
Nation - The Big Challenge is NOT about just putting people on diets.
The aim is to provide the tips and tools to help you make easy,
achievable, changes in your eating and activity habits to help you
get healthier and stay that way for good.
The
focus is on simple, easily achievable lifestyle changes with a fun
flavour. For example, sport and going to the gym isn't the only
way to get fit - why not go dancing instead?
Are
YOU up for it? If you are a family from Gloucestershire interested
in Fat Nation - the Big Challenge, we want to report your experiences
on our airwaves and website.
There
will also be a chance to make a video diary as you go through the
nine challenges.
Feelgood
Friday
The
problem is as bad in this county as anywhere else - and that's why
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire is backing the national campaign.
To
coincide with Fat Nation - The Big Challenge, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire's
lunchtime show with Mark Cummings will focus on food, fitness and
lifestyle issues.
The
Big Challenge in Gloucestershire is being supported by The Citizen
newspaper, GL1 leisure centre and celebrity chef Robert Rees, who
is available to provide .
We'll
also keep you up to date with an exciting healthy living initiative
which offers Gloucester rugby fans the chance to learn diet and
fitness tips from their sporting heroes. .
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| One
in four British men is grossly overweight |
And
on October 29, the week before the last programme in the nine-week
series is aired, will be Feelgood Friday, a free, fun event
at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning Centre in Eastgate Street, Gloucester.
Feelgood
Friday will bring together experts including nutritionists, health
and fitness experts, dance groups, chefs, and sportspeople.
Feelgood
Friday will have something for everyone, whatever your age, whatever
your size. And there will be the chance to win great prizes that
will help you change your life for the better!
Watch
this space for more about Feelgood Friday, coming soon. And if you
are involved in health, fitness or nutrition initiatives in the
county and would like to take part email clare.parrack@bbc.co.uk
Have
your say
Your
comments:
Helen
Kay
I have only seen the prog a couple of times but I think it id really
encouraging to those of us overweight but people nee to realise
it is not a walk in the park losing weight, it's hard work !!
estelle
i want to lose some weight but don't know how to because i allready
eat 5 pieces of frute a day, fishfingers and drink water, tea and
milk. i have tried to stop eating for a few days and some other
things. what can i do now
charl
wow! cool show my friend's friend was on it and it has really helped
me to face up to my own unhealthy eating regime. thanks!
lucy
i think the programme is a fab fab idea, people need to wake up
and realise that being overweight can have serious complications
and seriously need to combat it. I hate the fact that people use
the excuse of having no time to exercise thats why they become overweight,
get real and accept it and do something about it before its too
late!!!!!!!
Charli
This show is ace. It shows the nation that anyone can be fit and
healthy whilst losing weight. I'm only 13, but i know that health
is very important and being fat/obese is not good news(having your
stomach stapled is sooo not in nowdays)!!! Being fat is disgusting
and the nation needs to do something about it!
Chloe
this programme is good, but will it really help people to get fit/thin?
they need to really try, good luck to them
Howard
Wells
I have something to say about this... this programme is offensive
to all fat people and this show should be banned!
Hannah
Prew
I think this programme is a good idea. I'm 16 and a student and
I'm currently writing an article on the increase of child obesity.
I thought I'd take a look at this site and I've also watched a couple
of the programmes. The show is helping me as it's helping me understand
the issues of obesity and the type of life styles people lead.
Vicki
Lee
I am a 19 year old girl from Bristol, Glos.. I constantly worry
about my weight when I'm only 9 stones 2 pounds because the rest
of my family are either clinically overweight or obese. I think
youngsters today think it's okay to eat junk because that's what
they've been taught from a young age. I will enjoy watching the
programme and wish everyone taking part good luck, but I really
do think they've got a challenge on their hands.
Read
some of the features you may have missed in our
archive
section
or get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk.
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As
residents of a Birmingham street try to shape up with the eyes of
the nation upon them, find out how YOU and your family can eat, think
and exercise your way to a healthier future. 
