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
kitchen deep cleaning Mundelein ..Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Looking to lose weight quickly? The good news is that... Read More
1. Carrying around excess body fat will decrease your energy... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain,... Read More
Axiom Number FourTo have a great selling diet plan encourage... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
The latest trend in the area of weight loss is... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
Remember there's more to you than meets the eye. You've... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
Are you frustrated with your weight problem and don't know... Read More
I was so embarrassed for her. After a grueling 45... Read More
I don't know anything about you but if you're anything... Read More
Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More
WAHOO!!! for YOU!! You are the most AWESOME person alive!!... Read More
If You are sick of losing the same weight over... Read More
If you're like me, you probably wish that there was... Read More
Do you tend to find your weight increases when you... Read More
We in the diet and exercise industry have our own... Read More
I have been seriously working on losing weight for about... Read More
Franchised Business Models and American Diets could be at odds.... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
One of the most important things you can do for... Read More
monthly home cleaning Arlington Heights ..Notice, if you would, that every diet out there only... Read More
As the dieting phenomenon grows, with a new "diet guru"... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
Have You Given Up on Weight Loss? by Greg Landry,... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
Weight loss is never easy. Although this is stating the... Read More
The market is flooded with weight loss supplements that make... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
I would like to introduce you to an incredible new... Read More
Losing weight and going on a diet can be quite... Read More
Not so resolved on that "New Year's Resolution" to be... Read More
For many years, herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most... Read More
An ancient practice from Eastern Medicine, bowel cleansing is fast... Read More
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine... Read More
Yep, it is that time of year again! Time to... Read More
Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese... Read More
Stomach-Stapling Surgery ------------ There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads... Read More
As a Master swimmer I am made painfully aware, each... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
With the popularity of low carb diets such as Atkins,... Read More
After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very... Read More
Weight Loss |