Information On Obesity And How To Triumph Over It!

Reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2006 97 million adults over the age of 20 were obese, and this doesn't even count for children! How do you know if you are medically overweight or obese? Doctors use a formula that takes both height and weight into consideration to come up with a standardized measurement known as body mass index, or BMI. The BMI is a reliable indirect way of measuring total body fat content. Here is a little calculator you can do by hand to figure out your BMI:

divide your weight by pounds by your height in inches squared multiple the result by 703

The BMI for people at a healthy weight usually falls between 18.5 and 24.9

A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered over weight (which is not the same as obese)

A BMI over 30 is considered obese. Well over 30% of Americans fall into this category and the increase of health problems is dramatic

These risks and problems can include such things as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Also, obesity has been linked to mental health conditions such as season affect disorder (SAD) or feelings of shame and low self-esteem. Health experts say that even losing 10 to 15 percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease the risk of developing these serious conditions.

Here are a few causes of obesity and becoming over weight:

Ltd., physical exercise
Poor nutrition
Genetics
Hormones
Eating disorders such as binging and purging
Alcoholism
Stress

Eating a healthy diet with the right foods, limiting how much food you eat, and adding regular exercise to your daily routine can help you gain control and maintain a healthy weight. Remember proper portion control is a huge factor in this. If you would like to find out more information about obesity in America, or you want to find out what you can do to change your diet, simply go to Google and look there. You wouldn't believe the amount of resources available at the click of a mouse! There are websites, organizations, e-books, weight loss systems, support groups, forums, and much more. The first step is the most important step!

Even if you just go online and take a look at some information, at least then you are doing something about it. Don't sit back and allow yourself to stay where you are, instead change it! I can almost guarantee if you lose the weight you want that you will feel not only feel healthier, but you will also feel better about yourself and the goals in which you have accomplished!

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