Unit 9  OBESITY

TASK 1 SPEAKING

A)    What causes obesity and overweight?  Explain the role of these factors:

increasing urbanization, marketing, education, nature of many forms of work, new modes of
transportation, food processing, poverty...

B) Do you agree with the following statements? Why? Why not?

1. Fat is necessary and performs many functions in the body. Thinking of it as 'evil' is a
misconception.

2. Obese children are often depressed.

3. Obsessing over a child's eating habits or size may make them more unhappy.

4. It´s not necessary to change our lifestyle to lose weight because new drugs are being developed
that may give greater weight loss with fewer side effects.


TASK 2 READING Complete the gaps

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair
________. Fat functions as an energy reservoir. It is laid down when food is plentiful and then
converted back to energy when needed. Normal levels of fat are not a problem for the body. In fact,
they're necessary for it to function smoothly. On a basic level, people become obese when their
calorie _________ is higher than their calorie expenditure. However, a host of factors complicate
this picture. An individual's genetics, metabolism, culture and _________ all have a role to play.


Body mass index

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index that is commonly used in classifying overweight and obesity
in adult populations and individuals. It is defined as the ____________ divided by the square of
the ________.

BMI provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity as it is the same
for both ________ and for all ages of adults. However, it should be considered as a ________ guide
because it may not correspond to the same degree of fatness in different individuals. BMI
overestimates body fat in persons who are very ____________, and it can underestimate body fat in
persons who have lost body mass (e.g. many elderly).



Waist circumference

Excess weight, as measured by BMI, is not the only risk to your health. So is the __________of fat
on your body. If you carry fat mainly around your _________, you are more likely to develop health
problems than if you carry fat mainly in your _________ and __________. This is true even if your
BMI falls within the normal range. Women with a waist measurement of more than 89 cm or men with a
waist measurement of more than 102 cm may have a higher disease __________ than people with smaller
waist measurements because of where their fat lies.

TASK 3 READING

HEALTHY AT EVERY SIZE – NEW HOPE FOR OBESE PEOPLE?

The “Every Size” strategy, a health-centered rather than weight-centered program, may help chronic
dieters reshape their thinking, shed unhealthy habits, adopt new patterns of eating, become more
physically active and increase their self-esteem.

“Chronic dieters are those who either have failed at a sequence of diets, or, after successfully
losing weight, gain back the pounds and start the dieting cycle all over again,” explains
physiologist Marta D. Van Loan. “For obese folks who can’t find a healthful weight-loss regimen
that gives them lasting results, this alternative to conventional dieting may offer greater and
more sustainable improvements to several key indicators of their health.”

Every Size clients learn how to build their self-esteem; recognize and follow the body’s natural,
internal cues to  hunger and satiety (a feeling of fullness); make healthy choices at mealtimes and
in between; and enjoy some form of physical activity—an approach that’s different from exercising
mainly to lose weight.

Question: Do you think this strategy will have better results than traditional weight-loss
programmes?

TASK 4   Grammar – Conditional I


a)     Study the sentences below, then formulate the rules for conditional I:

1.      People will be healthier if they have more exercise.

2.      She will be very happy if she gets the job.

3.      I´ll join you on the hike if I´m in a good shape.


b)     Do you understand the meaning of unless?

e.g. He won´t be happy in the city unless he makes some friends.


c)      Complete the gaps:

You will lose weight if you …………………………..  .

She will improve her performance if she ………………….……..  .

You won´t achieve your fitness goals unless ……………………………. .


TASK 5 LISTENING

Watch one of the videos and prepare to comment on it:

Sandra Aamodt – Why dieting doesn´t usually work  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn0Ygp7pMbA)

Alisa Anokhina – Why we must stop ignoring the psychology of weight loss
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWfqBy4sSD8)