An astonishing survey out this week by one of the top Private Medical Insurers claimed that at least a third of obese people believe they are healthy.

Apparently 1 in 3 people with a BMI of over 30 appear to believe they are in very good or excellent health.  They seem to not consider or realise that they are sleep-walking towards a whole host of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.

In the UK, nearly 3.5 million UK adults have been diagnosed with diabetes – a figure that’s soared by 65% since 2005.  Diabetes in turn, encourages fatty deposits to build up in the coronary arteries which can lead to heart disease, increasing the risk of deadly heart attack or stroke.

In an attempt to improve the health of their workforce,  many top UK companies are introducing Wellness programmes – this is showing an 8% year on year (YOY) improvement in health and a 16% YOY reduction in productivity loss.

This news is sobering to anyone, but particularly pertinent to your insurance protection.  Anyone considering taking out a life policy who has either diabetes or some degree of heart disease will be declined or have a significantly increased premium.

My advice?

• Check out your BMI if you’re not sure
• Join your workplace wellness scheme if you’re offered one
• If your BMI is in the risk zone, think seriously about your lifestyle choices – or at least, know the risks.
• In terms of insurance cover, if you think you’re at risk of any weight-related conditions, be prepared and buy Life Insurance and Critical Illness cover now.  If you buy before you develop any of these serious conditions, you may be protected, and it could make all the difference.

If you’re worried about anything you’ve read here, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I’m a former nurse as well as insurance specialist, and I can guide you towards the best solution for you.