Challenge continues after elimination

By Jane Hope
Bermuda Hospitals Board

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than one billion adults over weight and at least 300 million who are clinically obese.

Bermuda has not escaped this growing trend. According to the results of the 2006 Health Survey of Adults and Children in Bermuda, 64 per cent of adults were either overweight or obese (40 per cent and 24 per cent respectively) an increase from 57 per cent in 1999.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death. It is associated with an increased risk of developing or worsening over 30 health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

An over-abundance of calorie dense, nutrient poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fat, along with a decreased level of physical activity and exercise has contributed to this growing epidemic.

Healthy eating and exercise have long been considered to be the cornerstones to losing weight. The challenges to losing weight, however, are many and varied.

In recent years there have been a growing number of reality themed television programmes focusing on weight loss, using intensive exercise regimes in a competitive-based environment, all of them demonstrating major weight loss results, which can be achieved in this type of setting.

The Live Healthy Bermuda 100 Day Challenge was first introduced in 2007 and members of Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Diabetes team, including Debbie Jones, myself, Karima Stevens and Jessica Wade, have undertaken weight and other assessments for the participants taking part in the challenge.

Each participant has an initial weight taken using a body composition scale which allows us to assess their percentage of body fat, total body water, hydration level, fat free mass in pounds and estimated muscle and bone weights. Additionally waist, hip chest, blood sugar and blood pressure measurements are also recorded.

Measurements are then re-taken prior to the fourth and eighth week eliminations weigh-ins. The focal point of the Live Healthy Bermuda Challenge is to identify the participant who has lost the greatest amount of weight. It is, however, encouraging that all participants, even those who are eliminated from the competition, see positive results gained from the lifestyle changes they have made during the competition.

Not only is total weight loss achieved, but the quality of that weight loss, i.e. total reductions in body fat percentage, increases in their hydration status and in their muscle mass, improve significantly. Improvements are also seen in the total number of inches they lose and in their blood sugar and blood pressure measurements.

The Diabetes and Chronic Disease Management team uses the weigh-in sessions as teachable moments to encourage participants in their quest for a healthier lifestyle. Those participants who see the greatest body fat reduction, along with the maintenance or increase of their lean body mass (muscle) will continue to benefit from the competition as long as they maintain a healthy eating plan and continue to increase their activity levels as part of their life.

Jane Hope is Diabetes nurse educator at Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Chronic Disease Management Centre, regarding the 100-Day Challenge.