Nearly two-thirds of adults in the USA are overweight, and 30.5 percent are obese, according to data from the 2002-03 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This fact presents the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S., as well as their disease, mortality, and economic costs.
Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for such diseases as:diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints), sleep apnea and other breathing problems, some forms of cancer (uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder), high blood cholesterol, complications of pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair), stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles), and psychological disorders such as depression, increased surgical risk.
These are not scare tactics, but reality.
Overweight refers to an excess of body weight compared to set standards. The excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat.
A person can be overweight without being obese, as in the example of a bodybuilder or other athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, many people who are overweight are also obese.
At weightchoice.com we want to bring you pure and simple facts and not give you rose-tinted glasses or false hope. The simple and basic fact is that if you look after yourself, you will feel better in every way and the quality of your life will improve. If you put your head in the sand and let yourself fall apart, then things will get worse. It is as simple as that.
This site is not for fitness fanatics or those who are already well on the road of fitness and well-being. It is for the majority of normal people who have somehow let life pass them by- and let their physical reality worsen. We offer no miracle cures or diets and we are not trying to sell anything.
We are, uniquely, bringing you free information through an increasing amount of current "fitness topics" analyzed by our pool of experts- in essay form, who will affirm or dispel the myths as well as offer you some practical, do-able, sound fitness/weight loss advice.
In the end, it will be you who has to take the initiative.
Weight loss equals good health
We are living through an obesity epidemic and weight has become a significant personal and public health issue. Each of us needs to ensure that we don’t become a victim, because ill health will be our reward. Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory conditions and back pain are just the beginning. Who willingly inflicts these on themselves?
The good news is that we can all do something about our weight, no matter how many times we have failed in the past. First of all, find out if you are overweight or obese with this simple BMI (body mass index) test: take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height in inches squared. Or, if you prefer, take your weight in kilograms and divide it by your height in metres squared.
Now you have a figure. If that figure is below 18, you are underweight; from 18 to 25, means you have a normal weight; from 25 to 30 indicates you are overweight; and above 30 means you are obese. In which range do you fall?
Good diet and regular exercise are the key
The cornerstone of success with weight loss it diet and exercise. While we struggle with diets, evidence supports high carbohydrate/low fat or high protein/moderate carbohydrate diets. As for exercise, 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise daily is considered the minimum. Again, what have you found? Weight loss is considered a success if you lose from 6 to 11 pounds (3 to 5 kgs), or 5 to 7 percent of your body mass for a year or more.
Slimming
Our regularly updated website features many actionable ways to lose weight. Full of great free tips and information on a variety of topics including diet and exercise. Discover how to get slim - and stay slim.
