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‘Active Fat’ campaign launched

Diabetes UK, BHF and Cancer Research UK collaborate

Posted in NGO and IGO action on 20th April, 2010 | no responses

Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK today launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying excess weight around your middle. The ‘Active Fat’ campaign urges people to measure their waistlines and make positive changes to their lifestyles if they are at risk. The charities have collaborated to produce a web animation where a sinister fat cell character makes it debut, helping to illustrate that as opposed to lying around innocuously, fat cells are actually very active and working around the clock.

The campaign encourages people to know their risk. Diabetes UK Care Advisor Libby Dowling said ‘Knowing your risk is an important first step towards shedding the extra fat anchoring our nation to future health issues.’ For more information, visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

A survey of 2,000 people commissioned by Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that 97% of people are unaware of the link between carrying excess weight around the middle and the risk of developing cancer and type 2 diabetes. Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director for the BHF, said: ‘That “harmless” spare tyre around your waist is actually a major health hazard. While you might be relaxing at home, your fat cells are working overtime to pump out excess hormones and other chemicals that can cause disease.’

Source: Diabetes UK, Medical News Today and Nursing in Practice, 20 April 20 2010.

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