Reporting in.
Here is my story.
I'm the 60 year old husband.
My 60 year-old husband is very overweight, mostly around his belly. I have tried over the years to get him to lose weight but he is very stubborn. He was a fit footballer until his early 20s, but since stopping sport has gradually put on weight. He likes his beer, and loves his food. I am worried about his overall health and the possibility of heart attacks down the line. Any suggestions?
Answer:
I can understand your concern over your partner's health. Being overweight (especially if a man's waist measurement is more than 100cm) raises the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
The good news though is that losing excess weight and doing regular exercise can reduce the risk of these health problems.
One of the main challenges is motivation for change. Some choose not to alter their lifestyles because they are in denial about their state of health or they are unaware of the health implications of carrying excess weight. Others see it as being all too hard.
Yet even small changes can be beneficial. Becoming more active (eg, climbing stairs at work and walking to the corner store), taking up exercise like a daily 30-minute walk and slowly eating less calories and saturated fat can all have profound effects on long-term health. And often the lifestyle changes can be introduced gradually so it's not too much of a shock to the system.
Perhaps as a first step you could encourage your husband to see his GP for a check-up. This consultation may include tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes if these have not been done for a while. One organisation I have found which can help men to lose weight is GutBusters.
So, here goes.