Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated with pictures, images, icons and inferences of the 'perfect' female shape! The truth is that many of these images are altered or enhanced in some way and do not depict the typical female form. The pressure to lose weight is immense when we are bombarded every day with media selling products based on slimness, sex appeal and fashion. The constant message is that slimness will make you desireable.
With the current demographic trends in western countries, and faced with a sea of high fat, high sugar combined with physical inactivity; it is time to pay attention to our weight but not for any reasons of desirability. The most important reason for wanting to be a healthy body weight is for health rather than for how your body looks.
Overweight and obesity are major public health problems in western countries. Since the 1980s both adult men and women have become heavier, with obesity rates more than doubling in the last 20 years! Children are also becoming heavier. There is a growing concern that we are inadvertently training our overweight children to become obese adults. It has been said, we are digging our graves with out teeth! So just why should we be concerned with achieving a healthy body weight?
Overweight linked with diabetes.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association featured two studies that highlighted the topic of obesity and its impact on health. The first study focused on the relationship between obesity and diabetes, as well as the growing concern of diabetes in the U.S. between the years 2000 and 2001. The numbers don't look good, with an alarming 5.6% increase of obesity in both men and women-from all ethnic groups, age ranges and educational levels. The occurrence of diabetes also increased-up 8.2% from 2000.
Overweight linked with premature death.
The second study found that obesity appears to markedly lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5'10" weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity. Findings were similar for women with higher BMIs, who were estimated to lose an average of eight years. While these studies reference extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. Overweight linked with heart disease.
Overweight people tend to have higher blood pressure and higher blood cholesterol, which are major risk factors for heart attack and other blood vessel disease. Being overweight can contribute to problems in the joints, and is also associated with other serious diseases such as diabetes.
How you tell if you are overweight
As we are all different shapes and sizes, there is not one recommended weight for your height. Instead there is a range of weights that are healthy for your height. One way to check your weight is to calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI.
Your BMI is a ratio or comparison of your height and weight expressed in a number. To find out your BMI you need to divide your weight (measured in kg) by your height (measured in m) squared. If you do not know your measurements in the metric system you can find any number of BMI calculators online that will do the conversion for you into empirical measures. One such calculator is at the website listed below.
The accepted definitions of weight categories by BMI are:
Underweight - BMI less than 18.5
Healthy weight - BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
Overweight - BMI equal to or greater than 25 and up to 29.9
Obese - BMI equal to or greater than 30
These BMI values only apply to adults aged 18 years and over and are based on studies of Caucasian populations. Therefore, they are not applicable to children and adolescents and they may not be appropriate for people of other cultural backgrounds.
Another way to check your weight is to measure your waist circumference, using a tape measure. This gives you an idea of whether you have a lot of fat stored around your middle. Waist circumferences associated with increased health risk are:
For men Waist circumference greater than 94cm
For women Waist circumference greater than 80cm
Being a healthy weight can help:
- improve blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood glucose levels
- reduce your risk of other health related problems
- improve self confidence and self esteem
- make it easier to be physically active.
If you are obese or overweight?try not to gain additional weight. This will help you in years to come as people tend to increase weight with age. Better still look after your body and follow a healthy lifestyle incorporating a nutritious, delicious, health enhancing weight loss program. Just by losing 10 pounds you can significantly improve your overall health.
(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore
Kim is successful a weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and help you reach your goal weight and never 'diet' again. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply results you'll love. You can receive a free body fat assessment at http://leanmachine.org/?refid=overweight-23705
efficient cleaning crew Lake Forest ..Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More
I don't know about you, but I absolutely love bread... Read More
Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More
Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
Did you know that what you're eating could be making... Read More
First? establish realistic goals. Start with a target you can... Read More
One of the difficulties with dieting is the well known... Read More
There is no doubt about it; Americans are eating in... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
The Quest to Reach Your Ideal WeightIt was late in... Read More
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More
In this series of articles, you will learn exactly how... Read More
The 8-Week Campaign to Survive the HolidaysEating preparations in the... Read More
Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to... Read More
The safe way to lose weight begins with a thorough... Read More
It's always great to find a protein supplement with very... Read More
Have you ever wondered with all the weight loss programs... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
You are not a kid any more and becoming a... Read More
Obesity, once seen as akin to laziness and overeating, is... Read More
green cleaning service Deerfield ..When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More
If you have been trying to lose weight permanently, then... Read More
Watching television exercises our eyes but nothing else. Unfortunately, it... Read More
How to Estimate How Many Calories You Can Have and... Read More
Many people have asked me what foods they should eat... Read More
Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More
The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More
To prepare ourselves for the Summer Sun we want to... Read More
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more... Read More
You don't realize it, but in the next few minutes... Read More
Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people... Read More
Let me tell you something - if you are doing... Read More
Twenty years of health club consulting, 50,000 hours of paid... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Let me ask you a personal question. As you read... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
I was shocked. I started to cry...After the holidays, I... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More
Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More
Fat burning exercise is not merely one that will burn... Read More
For those of you who aren't familiar with ephedra let... Read More
Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More
Dr. Atkins death was unexpected. On 8 April 2003, he... Read More
There's one thing that most people forget about when it... Read More
Weight Loss |