Which of your own health statistics are you aware of? Perhaps you keep a tally of the steps you do in a day and your weight? Well, science is increasingly telling us that a stack of other numbers are, in fact, a far better guide to a healthier life. A new global report even calls for an entire rethink of the way we use BMI to diagnose obesity.
‘We no longer have a patriarchal system where the doctor is in charge and the patient sits there without knowing what’s going on in their body,’ says Dr Eve Wijayanayagam, a GP who practises at the Sarum Road Hospital, Winchester. ‘There’s been a natural shift to patient responsibility. These days, it’s important to discover your “numbers”, so you can take better control of your own health.’ So, what do you really need to know?