Newsletter - December 2007

In a couple of weeks a number of you will be complaining about how you have over indulged and that you need to get yourself back on track. There is no time like the present to start but hey – the New Year will do. Remember, it is easy – input versus output – if you want to eat more you need to exercise more.

Do not always consider the way you look on the outside though. The inside is more important. You cannot see cholesterol or visceral fat, but if you are leading an unhealthy lifestyle, chances are it is building up without you noticing. Everytime you eat that bag of crisps check the grease on your fingers and imagine that lining your arteries. It is easy enough to wash your hands and the results are immediately visible, but to clean your arteries requires a great deal more discipline and, of course, the old saying “out of sight, out of mind” applies. I will address this in another newsletter.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of heaviness and is the measure most often used to refer to relative sizes. You can check yours on the table overleaf. Body fat percentage, however, is more accurate as a measure of excess body weight as it does not only refer to the fat that is found beneath the skin but also to the fat between your muscle fibres and protecting your organs. It differentiates between the weight of muscle mass and that of the fat mass. BMI lumps all masses into one figure. Even if you are thin your body fat percentage could be high.

Both cholesterol levels and body fat percentage can now be measured at the surgery so when you make your next appointment please enquire.

In the meantime have a wonderful Festive Season and thank you for your support over the past year.

Here’s to your good health!

Regards

Nigel