Overweight?
Here’s some food for thought.
Adult obesity is a serious health issue in the United States.
Today it’s estimated that 65 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese. All those extra pounds increase the risk for a multitude of health problems, everything from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease to joint problems, diabetes, sleep apnea, and long-term illnesses. Obese men are more likely to die from cancer of the colon, rectum and prostate. Obese women are at greater risk for cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix and ovaries. Other medical risks associated with obesity include gallbladder disease, fatty liver disease and complication during pregnancy.
So how do you know if you are overweight? Experts generally agree that a man with 25 percent body fat and a woman with 30 percent body fat are obese. Determining a person’s body fat is not as easy as you think. The best way is to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, who can use a weight-to-height table or determine your Body Mass Index (BMI).
Getting started on losing weight.
If you’re ready to lose weight, there are many options available. The good news is that even a moderate loss of just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can significantly reduce your health risks by lowering your blood pressure and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Usually a combination of eating a healthy diet and starting a moderate exercise program is the first step. Behavior modification and weight-loss drugs are other possible therapies. In extreme cases, weight-reducing bariatric surgery, such as reducing the size of the stomach or placing an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach to decrease a person’s food storage area, may be an option.
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
An adult who has a BMI over 30 is considered obese.
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