We in the UK have now reached what can only be described as a childhood obesity epidemic.
More than one in five children in the UK is obese at present – obese meaning that they carry so much weight that it threatens their health. Experts predict that two out of three children could be obese by 2050 if current trends continue.
Whatever your child's weight, make sure you do what you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle for them.
Remember portion control. They're not adults, so don't give them adult portions, and don't scold them if they don't finish their food because they're full, make sure you know the difference between fussiness and fullness.
In the summer holidays this year don't let them just sit on their bottoms playing DS R4 card games, take them out to play games and run off steam, keep them active and keep them healthy.
Photo: stevendepolo (Flickr)
A 22-stone ex-policeman has lost his court appeal to force a health authority to fund his obesity surgery.
Tom Condliff, 62, from Stoke-on-Trent, needs a gastric bypass operation to save his life after becoming obese from weight put on due to drugs he takes for long-term diabetes.
This is a particularly sad case as this man has not become obese through bad eating, laziness or disregard to his health, but because of medicine he must take to keep him alive.
The procedure he wants is an expensive one that he likely cannot afford privately, but he shouldn't have to go private. You shouldn't have to have a high-flying stock broking career with Rowan Dartington to be able to afford the health care you need. The NHS was built on the ideal that everyone should have access to health care, but unfortunately sometimes they come up short.
Photo: boliston (Flickr)
We are so happy to see all the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer posters around at the moment, featuring the lovely Sadie Frost, Cat Deeley and Karen Gillan.
You can support the great cause by buying lovely womens and mens t-shirts and other clothing items that help raise awareness and look fab, from shops all around the UK.
The annual Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign was started by Ralph Lauren in 1994, and has become a staple of the fashion calendar, with famous faces fronting the campaign every spring.
Each piece in the wide-ranging collection has been specially designed by high street retailers Topshop, River Island, M&S, Coast and Laura Ashley, as well as bottlegreen and my-wardrobe.com, and fit in perfectly with current fashion trends. Pieces range in price from as little as £1.50 to £157.
Photo: Leo Reynolds (Flickr)
I just wanted to write a little note in appreciation of the NHS, we are very fortunate in this country to have such a fair system and not have to rely on private health insurance, or go bankrupt from medical bills if we have an accident.
Funded through tax ensures equity for patients, but is economically sound as it is the cheapest way of collecting money. I feel very priveleged to be able to rely on the NHS, and am glad that our country is not the same as those such as America, who charge patients for their care, leaving some with a huge financial burden. If you end up really sick and in need of healthcare, you'd need a huge amount of money to get the care you need, better hope you've been investing loads of money with Rowan Dartington in the stock market!
I believe the NHS should be considered a model for other nations, and that they should follow suit for the sake of their people.
Photo: Ennor (Flickr)
I went over to my friends house for coffee the other day and she was saying how her and her husband had been looking a different wooden garden sheds to find one so they could make it into a mini-office.
I thought this was quite a good idea, as you wouldn’t then have to keep all your work stuff indoors and feel like you never escape work.
However, when I saw it I was shocked. They kept calling it a shed but really it was like a second house! It was huge!
It was more like a summerhouse where you could have a lodger living in! I loved it though and now I really want one!
Picture: shedstore.co.uk