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
I have had some e-mails come in and everyone is... Read More
1. Increase your fiber intake. The body needs a lot... Read More
You know you have weighted, err, waited more than enough.... Read More
We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health.... Read More
"Your Eyes are Bigger Than Your Stomach""Your eyes are bigger... Read More
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on... Read More
Green tea has been highly valued in Asia for centuries... Read More
Believe it or not, losing a little or a lot... Read More
Liposuction works best with people who are a normal weight... Read More
With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifty... Read More
Did you ever think about the fact that losing 2... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
Here are a few free tips on losing weight that... Read More
Are you overweight?Most people are afraid to admit they are.It... Read More
The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More
Do you have a big event coming up? Perhaps you... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Obesity, once seen as akin to laziness and overeating, is... Read More
Don't get discouraged. I, too, have found myself in this... Read More
You have noticed your obese friend suddenly slimmer. You want... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
I clearly remember how much I loathed having my picture... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy... Read More
"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More
I did it without starving myself or taking pills. How... Read More
RISING POPULARITYGastric bypass surgery has become a popular surgical procedure... Read More
Because the Internet allows so many millions of people to... Read More
Dieters have long searched for secret paths to easy weight... Read More
Dieting presents many complications if you are not fully committed... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
The gastric bypass procedure isn't for everyone, but those who've... Read More
I just came back from three days in Las Vegas.... Read More
From driving up your blood pressure and cholesterol, to increasing... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
Although every dieter knows that keeping food records is a... Read More
The revolution is here. Weight Loss as we know it... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
You may be considering a low carb diet program, but... Read More
Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid... Read More
We all have aspects of health we want to improve.... Read More
I had some questions come in about Ephedra. So I... Read More
The people of earlier times depended on the rich resource... Read More
The only way you will ever follow through on an... Read More
The Atkins diet can be boring because of the limited... Read More
The Liver The function of your kidneys is to filter... Read More
How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More
What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More
Weight Loss |