Some interesting stats from this article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/stop-midlife-spread-30s-40s-50s-beyond/
'Scientists from the University of California looked at the BMI of 65,000 people in four separate studies going back to before 1905 to see how weight has changed over the years – and found that this generation is getting wider, younger. For people born between 1955 and 1959, for example, the average 20something BMI was 24.4, which is a healthy weight. But for people born between 1980 and 1984, the scientists found they were, on average, a healthy weight as teens, but overweight in their 20s and obese in their 30s.
Dr Giles Yeo, principal research associate at the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, claims that this generational increase in weight gain has nothing to do with genetics. “Our genes have not changed from 1905 until now,” says Yeo. “The changes are driven ultimately from the environment – our lifestyle, socioeconomic factors and the food environment.
“This is not a straightforward calorie issue. Records show we ate more in the past, but the types of food we’re eating now are very different and this affects the way we absorb calories.”
Cost of food is also a factor. “Teenagers have always been energetic and a bottomless pit when it comes to eating, but they’re now able to buy cheaper food, which is often ultra-processed” – such as fast food, crisps or chocolate. “And if you end up with obesity when you’re young, the likelihood of keeping the weight gain is high.”'
'Scientists from the University of California looked at the BMI of 65,000 people in four separate studies going back to before 1905 to see how weight has changed over the years – and found that this generation is getting wider, younger. For people born between 1955 and 1959, for example, the average 20something BMI was 24.4, which is a healthy weight. But for people born between 1980 and 1984, the scientists found they were, on average, a healthy weight as teens, but overweight in their 20s and obese in their 30s.
Dr Giles Yeo, principal research associate at the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, claims that this generational increase in weight gain has nothing to do with genetics. “Our genes have not changed from 1905 until now,” says Yeo. “The changes are driven ultimately from the environment – our lifestyle, socioeconomic factors and the food environment.
“This is not a straightforward calorie issue. Records show we ate more in the past, but the types of food we’re eating now are very different and this affects the way we absorb calories.”
Cost of food is also a factor. “Teenagers have always been energetic and a bottomless pit when it comes to eating, but they’re now able to buy cheaper food, which is often ultra-processed” – such as fast food, crisps or chocolate. “And if you end up with obesity when you’re young, the likelihood of keeping the weight gain is high.”'
I did a 45 minute tabata today and nearly died
I'm close to being a stone down since January too. I'll weigh tomorrow as it's official weigh day but then try to avoid scales for a few days as I don't want to get back into bad habits of weighing everyday and not seeing a consistent downward trend.