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DIET THROUGH LIFE
Should
I eat the same diet all my adult life?
Obviously,
during your teenage years your body is still growing and this
combined with the active lifestyle of a teenager requires
that you take in enough food to meet your energy needs.
But
at the end of the teenage years, on average, energy requirements
are likely to be less and start to decline as you age. Eating
more than your body needs will obviously lead to gaining weight.
Prior
to the menopause, when a woman gains weight she is likely
to carry the excess weight in the hip and thigh area which
is referred to as a 'pear shape'.
Then
following the menopause women tend to gain weight in and around
the abdominal area (central obesity) commonly referred to
as an 'apple' shape.
Carrying
excess weight in this area increases your risk of developing
heart disease, diabetes and breast and endometrial cancer.
Severe
obesity can cause bone joint problems, as carrying the excess
weight can place immense strain on joints such as the knees.
Throughout
your life you should adjust your overall intake of food according
to how physically active you are.
But
although you may have to adjust your overall intake of food,
it is always important to ensure that your diet remains balanced
right throughout life.
This
means eating a wide variety of foods and ensuring you eat
a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre and vitamins
and minerals.
African-Caribbean
and Asian women (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) appear
to have an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease
and high blood pressure and this may be related to a tendency
to carry any excess weight in the stomach area.
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