Three quarters of us admit to feeling unhappy with our bodies, according to new research from Boots today.
The Know your Figure campaign launched today aims to educate Brits on how to work out the healthy weight range for their individual height and frame, rather than simply focusing on celebrity ideals, dropping dress sizes and counting pounds and inches.
1000 new Healthy-Weight Check machines are being installed in Boots stores across the country in a bid to help people set and achieve a healthy weight loss goal. The state-of-the-art machines accurately measure Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage and weight the nations new vital statistics.
When asked which celebrity figure they most aspired to, British women lead with perfect 10, Kelly Brook, followed by Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.David Beckham, Daniel Craig and Johnny Wilkinsons perfect pecs set the standard for men.
Weight is the indication most (53%) of the nation use to judge whether they are a healthy size, but a third of us still rely on whether our clothes are too tight.
80% of Brits dont know their BMI
Four out of five Brits admit to not knowing their own Body Mass Index (BMI) and two-thirds dont even know that a healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. 25 to 27.9 is considered overweight and a BMI of 28 plus is classed as obese, according to guidelines from the Department of Health. The research revealed that most people sit in the overweight category with 27.9 being the average BMI for those surveyed.
Louise Redknapp is supporting the campaign. She says, My TV experiment showed how dangerous trying to get to size zero can be. Ive always felt this pressure to be thinner and its really important that people realise one size doesnt fit all and that its being a healthy weight that counts.
No wonder Brits have a bad body image if theyre constantly comparing themselves to unrealistic images of celebrities in the media who make a living out of looking good, explains Linda Papadopoulos, the psychologist advising on the Know your Figure campaign. Ive worked closely with Boots to put together personalised Change One Thing Action Plans that will suit your personality type and how to stick to it.
A Boots spokesperson said: It was interesting to see that among the figures that British women most admire, the more voluptuous shapes of Kelly Brook and Marilyn Monroe sat higher than Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham.
What we want to be clear about is that eight and a half, nine or ten stones might be healthy for one person but over or under weight for someone else the key thing is to know your own vital statistics and thats why were making Healthy Weight-Check machines available across the country.
Healthy weight management is the focus of Boots Change One Thing campaign this year, as 70 per cent of people who sign up for the campaign each year are trying to shift excess pounds after Christmas. Personalised Change One Thing Action Plans and experts are available in Boots to help customers achieve a healthy weight, stop smoking, get healthier looking skin and live a healthier lifestyle.
Pick up a free Action Plan in store or log onto www.boots.com/changeonething for more information and find an online buddy to help you stick to your plan.