 |
|||
| |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
Does It Matter If You Are Overweight?
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:
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 About The Author Kim is successful a weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype, 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, no obligation consultation today. http://tinyurl.com/5c9cw. Are you interested in a fantastic home business? Visit: http://tinyurl.com/62wo6.
MORE RESOURCES:
Weight-Loss - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Reasons for Obesity Causes of ObesityJust like there is no weight loss pill or single "magic potion"diet plan to cure obesity there is no single cause of obesity.We are living in an age of two income families, job loss,stress, and time constraints. First Component of Weight Loss Any true body transformation starts with self-discovery. It is an inside-out approach method. Weight Loss Programs: Which Weight Loss Program Will Really Work? Weight loss programs often have big claims. Understand the "science" behind weight loss, and you'll zero in on the achievable ones. How to Lose Weight While Gardening Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting a tree, or pushing a lawn mower around the yard?Does just thinking about it make you sweat? I am sure the majority of are nodding your heads in agreement. What I am about to suggest only takes a slight change in your thinking and a bit of planning and you can learn how to lose weight and get in better shape while gardening this year. How To Be A Big Fat Loser In 2005 Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed it is time to stop feeling like a big fat loser and become one by losing all the fat you gained. And I am here to tell you how to do it in seven easy to follow steps. The Secrets Behind Successful Diet Tips Explained Digestion is a chemical process. Our body combines different types of foods in our stomach using chemical reactions. Whats Wrong With Dr. Phils Food Plan? I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like his new book on weight loss. Dieting Tips Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can read zillions of tips where they say, don't shop while hungry or just eat less and where has that gotten you?1. Bat-Wings: The Dreaded Hanging Arm Skin After WLS Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese patients take in their total body make overs. One residue of massive weight loss is the dreaded "bat-wings". Diet Pills and Consumer Fraud Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come with many different promises. But at what point does the line between misleading advertising and outright fraud cross? And how long will health products be allowed to cross this line? Some diet pills have proven very effective, but were then found to have serious health side effects. Weight Loss: Where to find Hidden Calories If you have been eating as usual and the pounds seem to becreeping on - you could be a victim of hidden calories.When we are busy, stressed or focused on something elsewe reach for convenient snacks that are usually high in fat. Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution in Your KitchenŠ2003 Marilyn DiamondIf you're like me, you want to see some serious rejuvenation when you look in the mirror. But you're not interested in Botox, chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, lypo-suction, jaw and cheek implants and all the other pricey, temporary, somewhat invasive "solutions. Treadmill Weight Loss Tips These treadmill weight loss tips are a great way to help you shed a few pounds and shape up. A treadmill is designed for the most natural form of exercise which is walking. Weight Loss and Disease - It's Not the Food that's Killing Us! Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or from a letter in the mail, it's hard to face the truth at times. Hearing it can really cut to the core of our beings. Sweet Low Carb Foods - How Do They Do That? If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried some of those tasty low carbohydrate bars, candies or maybe even broke down and baked a loaf of that really easy to make and great tasting low carb banana bread.And after getting your head around the concept of 'net carbs', you may still be wondering what are those sweeteners listed on the labels, such as mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol and others, and how they fit into your Atkins, Protein Power, South Beach or other diets. The Best Weight Loss Exercise Is * Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes* Its not swimming a lot of laps * And its' definitely not running 5 miles everydayThe best weight loss exercise is?* Something that you like (love) to do* Something that you can do everyday for 30-60 minutes* Something that can at least make you break a little sweatSo that rules out watching TV, reading and sleeping. Just think about something that you enjoy doing that requires you to move. WLS Patients Take Too Long to Order Food: What's That About? Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had gastric bypass surgery often complain the patient takes an unusually long time to order food. Rose, whose mother had gastric bypass about eight months ago asked, "What's wrong with her? It's so frustrating!"There are a number of reasons gastric bypass patients are indecisive when ordering a meal at a restaurant. Youll Need Total Will Power To Undergo Weight Loss How much will power does it take in order to go through the torment of weight loss? Though the answer to weight loss varies from each individual, all it takes is the correct attitude, admitting to yourself that you do have the desire of letting lose the unwanted pounds.For years, people all over may have experienced the defeat from their own lack of self-will, thinking that weight loss is not worth the pain. Thirty Hints & Tips to Achievable Weight Loss Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started, keep you going, and help you stick to your diet.1. Caution! Watch Out For The Net Carb Trap! As a low carb dieter, you have probablybeen bombarded with all sorts of newfood terminology. One of the phrasesyou've probably heard time and time again is"net carbs.
|
| Arcade Games | site map |
| © copyright NextAge Technologies Ltd @ 2006 |
