Obesity: Consequences and Cures by Larry
Denton
When it comes to obesity, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a
pound of cure. According to goverment surveys, nearly 60 million Americans are
obese and 9 million are extremely obese.
There are many reasons for
people who are obese to lose weight. Taking charge of your weight is one of the
best ways to stay healthy and live a longer, more productive life. Staying
motivated is a big part of weight loss success, because all diets work--if you
stick to them. Most successful dieters tell health care providers that they lost
weight and kept it off by doing their own thing. In other words, they devised a
personal plan they could literally live with.
According to the National
Institutes of Health, in 1999, almost 108 million Americans were overweight or
obese. These conditions substantially increase the risk of morbidity from
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder
problems, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and breast, colon and prostate
cancers. Please use this site to help set goals for your weight loss and learn
about the several factors that influence your weight. Remember, there are no
"super foods" that either cause you to gain weight or lose weight. The answer is
in the number of calories consumed and the amount of exercise used to burn off
those calories.
The terms overweight and obesity are used by health
experts to indicate increased body weight in relation to height, when compared
to some standard of acceptable or desirable weight. Health care providers use
body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements to provide useful
estimates of overweight, obesity, and body fat distribution. Body mass index
(BMI) is the most common measure of expressing the relationship (ratio) or
weight to height. A BMI or 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. A person with BMI
of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a person with a BMI of 30 or more is
considered obese.
You can calculate your own BMI by first multiplying
your weight(in pounds) by 703 and then dividing that answer by your height (in
inches) squared. For example, for someone who is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs
220 pounds, the calculation would look like this: 220 X 703 = 154,660 divided by
(67 inches X 67 inches = 4,489) which results in a BMI of 34.45. By definition,
that person would be looked upon by the medical community as being
obese.
Obesity is actually defined as an "excessively high amount of body
fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass." The amount of body fat
includes concern for both the distribution of fat throughout the body and the
size of the adipose tissue deposits. Body fat distribution can be estimated by
skinfold measures, waist-to-hip circumference ratios, or techniques such as
ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging.
You
didn't gain 100 pounds in a month and you likely will not lose 100 pounds in a
month. Losing weight, although sometimes difficult, can be done. Starting with
small and easy steps--taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, eating
off smaller plates, eating fewer fats and calories, taking a family walk after
dinner, drinking diet soda, not taking seconds, more carrots (less cake),
drinking lots of water, washing your car by hand, asking a friend to exercise
with you--all of these can help you lose your excess pounds.
If you are
obese, losing just 5% of your weight can have significant health benefits. Using
small steps and simple tips you can successfully and sensibly lose the weight
AND keep it off. The result will be a better appearance, and a healthier, more
satisfied you. Lose the weight, regain your energy, increase your self
confidence, and start living again. You CAN do it!
About the Author
Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson
High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises,
Inc., an Internet business dedicated to providing useful information and
valuable resources on a variety of timely topics. For a gym full of information,
resources and suggestions about obesity, visit http://www.ObesityAide.com
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