With the alarming statistics of one in three Americans suffering from obesity and another thirty- three percent being unhealthily overweight, generally speaking, we as a nation have become fat.
Clinically, obesity is defined in several ways: as a significantly higher than average proportion of body fat; as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) value greater than 30; or as weighing more than 20 percent over average weight according to statistical tables such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Height-Weight guidelines. “Morbid Obesity” is when a person weighs 50 to 100 percent or 100 pounds above ideal weight. If your ideal weight is 150 and you weight 200 lbs, this is referred to as morbid obesity.
“Central Obesity” better known simply as “Belly Fat” is defined as the fat around your abdomen and waist. Belly Fat comes in two forms:
1. Subcutaneous fat: the layer of fat tissue just below the skin.
2. Visceral fat: lives deeply within the abdomen and in and around major organs such as the heart, liver and stomach.
Health authorities now cite obesity as one of the most serious health problems facing our country. Being seriously overweight for any period of time poses a direct threat to your health. In addition, obesity is now known to significantly increase your risk of many other serious chronic and degenerative health challenges including:
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fatty Liver
- Gall Bladder Dysfunction
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure / Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
- Hypothalamic Dysfunction
- Insulin Resistance
- Joint Pain
- Liver Dysfunction
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Sleep Apnea
- Sleep-disordered Breathing
- Stroke
Consider these statistics: 85 percent of all cases of adult-onset (Type II) diabetes are directly related to obesity, as are 45 percent of all cases of high blood pressure, 35 percent of all cases of heart disease, and nearly 20 percent of all cases of dangerously elevated high cholesterol. Finally, obesity without any other health complications causes the premature deaths of 300,000 Americans each year.
So, what do you do? You make a conscious decision, map a plan of action, and then you commit to positive change. BUT, before you take off to the race, I’ve put together a few key questions to ask your doctor before you begin.
Take a look at the following video to discover some key questions to ask your doctor:
So, what do you think? Was this information helpful? I would love to know your thoughts. And in the event that you did find this information helpful, I would love for you to share the Social Media love on Facebook and Twitter. I appreciate You:D
To Your Informed Success!
March 8, 2011
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