Home
>
Weight Loss
>
Excess Weight - Is It Going To Kill You?

Excess Weight - Is It Going To Kill You?

For many years, the experts, including our government have been telling Americans that obesity is a leading cause of preventable deaths. For example, as recently as January, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) ranked obesity as the second leading cause of preventable death, and estimated that about 365,000 Americans died as the result of obesity every year.

Now, however, the CDC has announced that obesity accounts for only about 25,814 deaths a year in the United States. So, what has caused the CDC to give a figure (365,000) that's nearly 14 times higher than the now estimated 25,814?

And just how did the Center for Disease Control overestimate the problem by nearly 340,000 deaths?

Obesity ? being extremely overweight ? can definitely be lethal. However, several smaller studies suggest that people who are just modestly overweight have a lower risk of death than those whose weight is considered normal.

One of the problems is that "normal" may be set too low for today's Americans. Also, it is thought that Americans who are classified as overweight are eating better, exercising more and doing a better job of managing their blood pressure.

Obesity is generally defined using a measurement called Body Mass Index (BMI). It is calculated by dividing a person's weight x 703 divided by their height squared or

BMI = Weight (lbs) x 703
Height squared (in2)

This means a woman weighing 173 lbs who is 5'6" would have a BMI of 28, making her overweight but not obese.

The error was created by the fact that the majority of the 400,000 deaths came from a definition of "obese" as a BMI 30 or higher. However, a substantial minority came from the "overweight" group of those with a BMI 25 to 29.9. Besides, the study failed to show a statistically significant relationship between being merely "overweight" and increased risk of death. So, if the deaths of overweight people had been excluded, the study would have reported 17 percent fewer deaths.

For that matter, the results of this study seemed indicate that being overweight could have a protective effect. In fact, most studies find no correlation between being overweight and an increased risk of death.

A new study attributes only 111,909 deaths per year to obesity, and subtracts the benefits of being modestly overweight, to arrive at the 25,814 figure.

What does all this mean to the typical American? It means it's a good idea know your BMI as it can be used as an indicator of coming problems. If your BMI is between 18 and 24.9 your weight is normal. If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are overweight. If it is 30 to 34.9, you are obese with a high risk of problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. A range of 35 to 39.9 puts you in the obese category with a very high risk of disease. And any BMI greater than 40 makes you extremely obese with an extremely high risk of disease.

For that matter, some estimates are that a BMI of 30 or higher increases the risk of death from any cause by 50% to 150%.

What can you do if you are in one of the at-risk categories? It's pretty simple. Lose weight. You can do this by cutting back in the foods you eat and by exercising more. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced new food pyramids based on a person's age, sex and amount of exercise. You can find your pyramid by going to mypryamid.gov. Put in your age, for example, 40, the fact that you're a male, and that you exercise less than 30 minutes per day. Click on Submit, and you will see a food pyramided geared specifically to help you eat healthy. Follow these guidelines for a few months and you're bound to see a new, healthier, thinner you.

Article by Douglas Hanna. Douglas is a retired advertising and marketing executive and long-time Denver resident. He is the webmaster of http://www.all-in-one-info.com, a free resource for information on a variety of subjects. Please visit his site to subscribe to his free newsletter, "Tips & Tricks to Save Money & Live Better."

cheapest limo Akin .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says using outdated computers and software leaves them vulnerable to security risks and malware.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how WalkON enhances walking and jogging with sensors and artificial tendons.

Old-fashioned check fraud is back in style, quintupling over the past year. Here are a few low-tech, practical means of protecting yourself.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how 600,000-plus records, including checks and property data, were left exposed online by an information service provider.

That weird text from a friend may actually be from a hacker. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson tells you what signs to look out for.

Scammers can wreak havoc on your life just by having your phone number. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson addresses how to avoid becoming a victim.

PongBot is an artificial intelligence-powered tennis robot and a smart training partner available to play 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to update your iPhone to add Apple Intelligence, which he says can transform your interactions with your phone.

University scientists have trained a robotic surgical system to do work with the skill of human doctors, possibly transforming the future of surgeries.

As more companies implement artificial intelligence for daily tasks, some industry leaders are working to push back against certain aspects of the technology.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the Batagaika crater in Siberia expands 35 million cubic feet yearly due to thawing.

While fewer than 30% of farmers reportedly use emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, experts believe AI could help producers and farmers make food quicker and more efficiently.

Amazon becomes a prime target of scammers during the holiday shopping season trying to steal Social Security numbers, bank information and Amazon credentials.

Spammers have found a way to target Spotify playlists and podcasts to push pirated software, cheat codes for games and spam links and malware sites.

Sharing information online like your vacation plans and relationship status can make you a target for scammers; here's what to avoid posting to keep yourself safe.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explores six sneaky holiday season gift card tricks, providing tips on how to outsmart scammers trying to rip you off.

Apple Watch's Translate app gives you your own personal interpreter, allowing you to have live two-way conversations in up to 20 different languages.

With kids facing a seemingly increasing amount of threats from creeps on the internet, here's how you can respectfully ask people not to post photos of your children on social media.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to regain your Facebook access if you get hacked or locked out.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to safeguard retirement accounts from cyber threats with a VPN: encryption, anonymity, secure access.

I’m going to Europe soon, and planning my trip was a breeze. Yes, really! AI did a big chunk of the work for me — and it can help you plan your next getaway, too.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says North Korean hackers hide malware in macOS apps, bypassing Mac security checks.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how iPhone’s new Automatic Mic Mode adjusts settings for optimal call quality automatically.

Jeff Hancock, an expert on AI and misinformation, has been accused of fabricating an expert declaration by citing a study that was allegedly made up by AI.

Excess Weight - Is It Going To Kill You?

Weight Loss