 |
|||
| |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
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 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."
MORE RESOURCES:
Weight-Loss - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Is Losing Weight The Same As Losing Fat? Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the indicator of a weight problem - the actual percentage of body fat is the true indicator. You need to know what percent of you is actually FAT. Diets Dont Work Any doctor worth their salt will tell you diets don't work.Plain and simple. Low Carb Diets - The South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, Zone Diet, and More The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst dieters. From diet books, free low carb diet plans, online dieting sites, and thousands of low carb recipes, low carb diets have produced favorable results for millions of overweight people. Do You Need To Cut Down 100 Calories A Day? But Dont Know What 100 Calories Is? The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain, can be as little as 100 calories a day. Well, that is according to the American Dietetic Association, and it is very easy to believe the underlying truth in that. The Folly of Diet Recipes Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to have a section of recipes?Apart from the desire to make the book look larger and therefore more worthwhile, why should we be so interested in studying foods and ways to serve it when we are trying to avoid it as much as possible?It is inconceivable that we have reached adulthood without the basic skills to boil, bake, steam, or roast our food.We all know that these are the only low fat methods we should be using on any diet. Anger: The Unexpected Emotion After Gastric Bypass Surgery The words I read made me furious. There it was, in black and white, the story of a fussy baby who was spoon fed ice cream to keep her quiet. Are You Ready To Lose Weight? I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've all tried so many diets until we can give calorie counts in our sleep - where do I get off asking a question like that?But bear with me please. The TRUTH About How to Lose Weight The huge companies stealing your money by promising impossible results if you just drink their shake, take their pill, or do 10 minutes of exercise on their wiz-bang machines are abusing your trust in the name of profits and market share.The real truth is that most (if not all) the products they're peddling are worthless - to you, that is. Dietary Weapons of Mass Distraction (WMD) As hoards of low-carb proponents invade the nutritional landscape, the increasingly tired low-fat guard seems to be giving way before their steady march and drumbeat.This invasion is a preemptive strike to find and remove the stockpiled food molecules that could be used to attack your health and explode your weight. Serious Dieting Tips, Humorous Explanations A few months ago, I set out to lose 22.6 pounds, then to put back on at least half of it. Weight Loss Tips for a Swimsuit Body Spring is here and swimsuit weather is just around the corner. If you're like many of us, you start panicking about all the weight you need to lose to fit into your favorite swimwear. Weight Loss Doesnt Work Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind of like a search engine on the internet. It is called your RAS for short. What to Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery Many people are under the impression that gastric bypass surgery is the easy way out of obesity. However, those that believe this unfortunately misunderstand the operation and its lifestyle and mind altering effects. Mamma Said: Keep Your Fingers Out Of Your Mouth Watching television exercises our eyes but nothing else. Unfortunately, it doesn't require us to do anything with our hands which leaves them free to grab something to eat. The Myth of Spot Reducing There is no such thing as spot reducing. Any fat you lose comes off in the same proportion it's stored in your body. Top 5 Weight Loss Strategies From A Top Level Personal Trainer You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling, unattractive extra pounds and you are ready to make it permanent this time. You are on the right track because you've taken the most important step toward your goal. Personal Space: Life After Lap-Band Surgery Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right at me? It seems to me that in a crowd these days, whether at the grocery store or 5th Avenue in New York City, people will walk right into me if I don't step out of the way. Or they stand so close to me I have to step backward in order to breathe. When Cellulite Attacks! Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In fact, it is not a medical term at all. Dieting Torture By Another Name, It Doesnt Need To Be That Way I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and in England and to me they all felt like self inflicted torture. They were boring, tasteless, and restrictive. Trying To Lose Weight? Heres A Low Carb Tip If Its White, Dont Eat It. Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice, sugar, and potatoes.
|
| Arcade Games | site map |
| © copyright NextAge Technologies Ltd @ 2006 |
