Holistic Weight Loss

In modern society the odds are stacked against your weight. The experts reveal how you can harness the latest cutting-edge science to fight back and trim down while still retaining your vigour and health.

- Linda Moon

Want to lose weight? Join the mob. According to a Roy Morgan survey, 72 per cent of Australian women and 58 per cent of men wanted to lose weight in 2014. In the ABS’ Australian Health Survey 2012 (the latest date for which such data is available), more than 2.3 million Australians aged above 15 years reported being on a weight loss diet. Yet, despite the thousands of books, websites, products, diets and businesses dedicated to the cause, our collective girth as a nation continues to climb. A whopping 67 per cent (12.5 million of us) were overweight or obese, according to the 2017–18 National Health Survey. In the 1980s that figure was around 10 per cent. What’s the go?

While we tend to view our weight issues as a sign of personal failure, the real culprit is a complex combination of factors inherent in the modern world. This includes our busy yet sedentary lifestyles, social factors and the omnipresence of refined food. Rather than blaming and shaming ourselves, the answer lies in understanding the forces we’re battling and implementing habits that support a healthier weight. With obesity a glaring global health issue impacting all ages, science is increasingly being harnessed in the fight.

Why and how we should size ourselves

While we need to love ourselves in all our shapes and sizes, too much body fat is linked to numerous health issues — from a greater risk of arthritis and diabetes to certain cancers and a lowered life expectancy.

Under the World Health Organization’s definition, you’re considered overweight if you have a BMI (a measure of your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in metres) of 25 or more; and obese if it reaches 30. However, not everyone with a high BMI is necessarily unhealthy, including those who exercise and eat well or hold a lot of muscle mass.