Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people in the United States, where women are especially affected. Over one-third of women between the ages of 20 and 74 are obese, the majority of them being African American or Mexican American. With more and more pre-packaged food and less and less activity, the number of obese people in America has steadily increased since the 1960's.
But what is obesity? Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight, but that's not exactly true. An overweight person has a surplus amount of weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. An obese person has a surplus of body fat. Most health professionals concur that a man is obese if he has over 25 percent body fat, and a woman is obese if she has over 30 percent. Women physiologically have more body fat than men, so that why there's a difference in percentage.
It is difficult to determine the exact percentage of body fat a person has, but estimates can be made in a number of ways. First, using a tweezer-like tool called a caliper, you can measure the thickness of skin folds on different points of your body and compare the results with standardized numbers. You can also use a small device that sends a harmless electrical current through your body and measures your body fat percentage. The most commonly used method to determine if a person is obese is to look at his/her Body Mass Index (BMI). A person with a BMI over 30 is considered to be obese, and a BMI over 40 is considered to be severely obese. It's important to remember though that BMI could be misleading in pregnant or lactating women and in muscular individuals. There are some free tools to find your body fat percentage at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/body-fat-calculator.html.
With obesity, comes the increased risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and breast, colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, obesity has been linked to mental health conditions such as depression or feelings of shame and low self-esteem. Health experts say that even losing 10 to 15 percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease the risk of developing these serious conditions. In addition, many obese people are discriminated against and targets of insults and other verbal abuse. Find out if you are at risk for health disease using the health calculators at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/high-blood-pressure.html.
A number of factors, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, genetics, and certain medical disorders, cause obesity, but it can be conquered. One major obstacle to being more physically active is motivation and accountability. Find a friend with similar fitness goals and begin a simple exercise program together. It takes time to see the results, but your health is worth it!
Written by Shelley Hitz, Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified NASM Personal Trainer.
Sign up for her free Exercise Advice journal at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.html or read more of her articles at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.html. Get your free unbelievable abs ball workout http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.html
Frankly, I'm puzzled whenever I hear this from somebody who's... Read More
We have missed the boat and your boat is sinking... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
There are a lot of "crash" diets out there that... Read More
I clearly remember how much I loathed having my picture... Read More
We have plans for everything these days. That is how... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
You have been on diets before. You probably have lost... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More
To lose weight and keep it off you need an... Read More
What do I mean by that?Well, carrots are good for... Read More
I wrote this article back in the late fall when... Read More
If you are among the millions of people searching for... Read More
Holidays and special events should be a time of great... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More
As we look around at the current generation of children,... Read More
Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things... Read More
Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More
The act of taking the first step is what separates... Read More
There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More
If you're trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
house cleaning near Wilmette ..THE 200 POINT SYSTEMWith so many different diets available, how... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
In theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy.... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Fifteen years ago the doctor's suggested that we eat pasta... Read More
In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines;... Read More
Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More
Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
You don't realize it, but in the next few minutes... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
For some of us, food is warmth and love. We... Read More
In a global television commercial just launched (10 June 2005),... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
I have put off writing a motivation article because of... Read More
When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed... Read More
Eating the right foods and exercising regularly have been the... Read More
I know how difficult it can be do stick to... Read More
The diary is an essential help in reaching your weight... Read More
Just like any other diet, the Atkins diet can become... Read More
What is ephedra? Ephedra, which is also known as Ma... Read More
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for... Read More
Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More
Weight loss surgery is fast becoming a very popular way... Read More
Weight Loss |