	home

	products & services

	health information

	facilities finder

	about Bupa

	jobs at Bupa

	contact Bupa

Products and services

	Health insurance
	Financial protection
	Care homes
	Health assessments
	Childcare
	Travel insurance
	International cover
	Health cash plans
	Shop

Visitor interest areas

	Individuals
	Business
	Intermediaries
	Health professionals
	Bupa members

Facilities finder

Find local health and fitness facilities

World of Bupa

Bupa services around the world at bupa.com

Sight-loss risk 'doubled' by obesity

7 September 2006

People who are obese are at double the risk of losing their sight, according to new research from the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB).

Eye health consultants at the RNIB have revealed a direct link between obesity and several common eye conditions which can lead to blindness, as part of their Feeling Great, Looking Good report.

Certain conditions, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are affected by the causes and effects of obesity, such as eating a poor diet and the development of diabetes.

The risk of developing AMD, the leading cause of sight-loss in the UK, is doubled in people who are classed as obese, says the report. It adds that the risk of diabetes, which can lead to retinopathy and cause irreversible sight loss, is also increased ten-fold in obese people.

Obesity is generally classed as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, meaning 10 million adults and two million children in the UK are now classed as obese and could be putting their sight at risk, as well as their general health.

Barbara McLaughlan, RNIB eye health consultant, said: "With a staggering one in five adults and children in the UK now considered to be obese, RNIB believes it is vital that people are made aware of the risks to their sight."

Sight charity the Eyecare Trust has added that it is not only obesity but people's lifestyles which can affect eyesight.

Iain Anderson, chairman of the Eyecare Trust, explained: "As the number of people registered blind or partially sighted continues to rise we are uncovering growing evidence that lifestyle factors play a significant role in determining the long-term health of our eyes.

"Making the right lifestyle choices from the start can help preserve your vision, however, it's never too late to start making changes, as in some instances, vision that is already in decline can be restored by following a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and generally cutting down on the things that we know are bad for us like cigarettes and alcohol."