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."

tidy up service Northbrook ..

In The News:

ETA sharing on Apple Maps and Google Maps keeps contacts updated automatically while you drive safely. Learn step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android.

Data removal from brokers protects against AI-powered scams and deepfake threats in 2026. Learn how data brokers sell your personal information to scammers.

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.

Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country

Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Excess Weight - Is It Going To Kill You?

Weight Loss