Tis the season to be…frank about that pot-belly

tell people they're fat at christmasHealth experts at the National Obesity Forum have warned that now is the time to tell your loved ones if they are carrying a little too much weight.

With the evidence piling up as fast as the chocolate wrappings, the message this Christmas is simple: face the flab. Abdominal fat is increasingly thought to be strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

A recent survey involving over 2,000 people found that nearly half of 18-24 year olds, one third of 25-44 year year olds and one quarter of over 44 year olds would not tell a loved one if they were fat incase it hurt their feelings.

The poll also revealed that men found it harder to tell their partners that they were fat than women did. Women were fine telling their husbands, but less likely to want to tell a friend.

Experts believe that Christmas, what with all the family gatherings, offers a fantastic opportunity to breech the subject.

Professor David Haslam, chair or the NOF, said: “Suggesting to someone that they should consider losing a few pounds may not be a comfortable conversation to have. But if someone close to you has a large waistline then as long as you do it sensitively, discussing it with them now could help them avoid critical health risks later down the line and could even save their life.”

When the modern commercial icon for Christmas is a chubby old man with a soft spot for mince pies and brandy butter, it would come as no surprise if sometime within the next few decades, a popular global brand unveils a healthier, slimmer version of our old pot-bellied friend.

Weight can be an awkward subject to breech with friends and family members. If you find the idea daunting, you could encourage your loved ones to visit a life coach. Life coaches aren’t there to lecture you, or make you feel stupid or bad – they are simply there to educate, guide and motivate. Life coaches  use expert techniques to make people feel good, change lives for the better and help overweight people become not only slimmer and fitter, but happier, and more comfortable in their own skin. To find out more about how a life coach can help, please visit Life Coaching Areas section.

View and comment on the original BBC article.

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Written by Zoe Thomas
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Written by Zoe Thomas
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