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| Who are you calling fat? | Who are you calling fat? |
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| Four of these men are obese - but didn't know it, until we stepped in By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Britain is the fattest country in Europe and part of the problem is people don't realise they are overweight, says the government. So what does obesity look like? | Four of these men are obese - but didn't know it, until we stepped in By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Britain is the fattest country in Europe and part of the problem is people don't realise they are overweight, says the government. So what does obesity look like? |
| How hard can it really be? The rolls of surplus flesh, the tight waistband, not being able to see your own feet - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out you're carrying extra pounds. | How hard can it really be? The rolls of surplus flesh, the tight waistband, not being able to see your own feet - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out you're carrying extra pounds. |
| But many people don't consider themselves overweight, according to fitness minister Caroline Flint, who says it's one reason why nearly a quarter of adults in the UK are obese. | But many people don't consider themselves overweight, according to fitness minister Caroline Flint, who says it's one reason why nearly a quarter of adults in the UK are obese. |
| OVERWEIGHT ACCORDING TO BMI George ClooneyBrad PittMatt Damon Calculate your BMI | OVERWEIGHT ACCORDING TO BMI George ClooneyBrad PittMatt Damon Calculate your BMI |
| The government and doctors use the body mass index (BMI) to assess a person's condition; classing us as "underweight, ok, overweight, obese or clinically obese". The calculation is based on comparing a person's weight with their height and does not take into account sex or the proportion of body fat to muscle. | The government and doctors use the body mass index (BMI) to assess a person's condition; classing us as "underweight, ok, overweight, obese or clinically obese". The calculation is based on comparing a person's weight with their height and does not take into account sex or the proportion of body fat to muscle. |
| Some medical bodies, including the World Health Organization, say waist size is a more accurate measure, but the government has no plans to ditch the BMI. | Some medical bodies, including the World Health Organization, say waist size is a more accurate measure, but the government has no plans to ditch the BMI. |
| "We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman. | "We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman. |
| So what does obesity look like? The Magazine headed to Stratford, east London, to break the unhappy news to some unsuspecting men, who significantly outnumber women in the fight against fat. | So what does obesity look like? The Magazine headed to Stratford, east London, to break the unhappy news to some unsuspecting men, who significantly outnumber women in the fight against fat. |
| ZAC GOBI - 6FT 4INS - 18 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE | |
| "Obese! Not even just overweight. That is a bit of a shock. I think it's ridiculous, I'm 6ft 4ins so I'm never going to be as light as a feather. I think my weight is fine for my height. | "Obese! Not even just overweight. That is a bit of a shock. I think it's ridiculous, I'm 6ft 4ins so I'm never going to be as light as a feather. I think my weight is fine for my height. |
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| "To get to the weight slap in the middle of what the index says is right for a man of my height I would have to lose around five stone. That's madness, I'd look ill and as if I had a massive head. | "To get to the weight slap in the middle of what the index says is right for a man of my height I would have to lose around five stone. That's madness, I'd look ill and as if I had a massive head. |
| "I eat one big meal a day, it is a really big meal - maybe a whole chicken, rice and peas. | "I eat one big meal a day, it is a really big meal - maybe a whole chicken, rice and peas. |
| I think the amount I eat and my diet is good. There is a problem with weight in this country but the index is confusing. It doesn't take into account things like muscle." | I think the amount I eat and my diet is good. There is a problem with weight in this country but the index is confusing. It doesn't take into account things like muscle." |
| BILLY MURRELL - 5FT 8INS - 14 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE | |
| "No way. I don't agree with that - it's crazy. I know I'm carrying a few extra pounds and I am having a cheeseburger for breakfast, but obese? I'm just eating this to kill a bit of time before an appointment, I don't usually have a burger for breakfast. | "No way. I don't agree with that - it's crazy. I know I'm carrying a few extra pounds and I am having a cheeseburger for breakfast, but obese? I'm just eating this to kill a bit of time before an appointment, I don't usually have a burger for breakfast. |
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| "That classification isn't any good because it doesn't take into account my body frame, muscle or what sex I am, all of which make a difference. | "That classification isn't any good because it doesn't take into account my body frame, muscle or what sex I am, all of which make a difference. |
| "I'd have to lose around three stone for the government to think I'm the right weight, That's just stupid. I'd look ill and I probably would be ill. | "I'd have to lose around three stone for the government to think I'm the right weight, That's just stupid. I'd look ill and I probably would be ill. |
| "I know the government has to have a way to measure weight, but this is not it. They need to look at things again." | "I know the government has to have a way to measure weight, but this is not it. They need to look at things again." |
| ANDY WOOD - 6FT 2INS - 16ST 11LBS - OFFICALLY OBESE | |
| "I know I'm carrying a little bit of extra weight but I'm not obese. I think I am a fair weight for my height and build. | "I know I'm carrying a little bit of extra weight but I'm not obese. I think I am a fair weight for my height and build. |
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| "The BMI doesn't take into account things like muscle, which is important. It would class most rugby players and footballers as obese and look how fit they are. | "The BMI doesn't take into account things like muscle, which is important. It would class most rugby players and footballers as obese and look how fit they are. |
| "According to the index my healthy weight is around 12 to 13 stone, but I actually think that is underweight for my height. | "According to the index my healthy weight is around 12 to 13 stone, but I actually think that is underweight for my height. |
| "There is a problem with obesity in this country, people don't eat well or look after themselves. But using the BMI is not the right way of assessing the problem, it's not very helpful." | "There is a problem with obesity in this country, people don't eat well or look after themselves. But using the BMI is not the right way of assessing the problem, it's not very helpful." |
| BRIAN MANSFIELD - 5FT 11INS - 17 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE | |
| "I knew it would have me as obese. I know I am packing a few extra pounds, but I don't consider myself obese. | "I knew it would have me as obese. I know I am packing a few extra pounds, but I don't consider myself obese. |
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| "I'm big boned but the index doesn't take that into account and it should. I do drive a cab, which means I'm sitting on my bum all day but I wouldn't say I was unhealthy. | "I'm big boned but the index doesn't take that into account and it should. I do drive a cab, which means I'm sitting on my bum all day but I wouldn't say I was unhealthy. |
| "I have lost weight in recent months. I did it by eating healthily, my wife does all that stuff - salads and that. She looks after me very well. | "I have lost weight in recent months. I did it by eating healthily, my wife does all that stuff - salads and that. She looks after me very well. |
| "The BMI is not a helpful way of calculating who's overweight and not. The problem is if people don't trust it they're not going to trust what else the government says about being healthy." | "The BMI is not a helpful way of calculating who's overweight and not. The problem is if people don't trust it they're not going to trust what else the government says about being healthy." |
| LEE EMBERY - 6FT 2INS - 15 STONE - OFFICALLY OVERWEIGHT | LEE EMBERY - 6FT 2INS - 15 STONE - OFFICALLY OVERWEIGHT |
| "I think that's a bit harsh. I know I could do with losing some weight, but only a few pounds. | "I think that's a bit harsh. I know I could do with losing some weight, but only a few pounds. |
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| "I'd have to lose about two stone to get to what the government thinks is the ideal weight for me. It's ridiculous, I would look ill, look like a skeleton. I would not look healthy. | "I'd have to lose about two stone to get to what the government thinks is the ideal weight for me. It's ridiculous, I would look ill, look like a skeleton. I would not look healthy. |
| "I know there are some things about my eating habits that I could change but on the whole I don't consider myself unhealthy. | "I know there are some things about my eating habits that I could change but on the whole I don't consider myself unhealthy. |
| "I'd like to see what some of those government ministers are classed as using this index. I would like to see how they react to being called fat." | "I'd like to see what some of those government ministers are classed as using this index. I would like to see how they react to being called fat." |
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