OBESITY: A NATIONAL PROBLEM

As a nation we are fat and getting fatter every year. The number of people who fall into the category of obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or higher) has doubled in the past thirty years. Better stop here and let you know how to figure your own BMI.

Weight in pounds x 704
Divide that number by height in inches
Divide that number by height in inches again

19 - 24.9 Good for you! - Fit
25 - 29.9 Overweight - You should address the problem now! This is when health issues may begin (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc)
30 + Obese - High risk for health problems.

Okay, back to where we were. Why this dramatic increase in overweight and obese people? It certainly cannot be genetics, those do not change in thirty years. Bottom line: we eat more and move less. If we put energy (measured in calories) into the body and do not use that energy, we wear it. The only thing the body can do with excess energy is store it as fat. The body does not care if that excess energy came from food that is good for you or from junk food. Weight is determined by how much you eat: health is determined by what you eat. So weight is nothing but energy in vs. energy out.

Our country is into the "more is better" mode. Fast food encourages super sizing the meal. Restaurants have increased serving sizes by over 30% in the past few years. Meals are now served on 12 inch meat platters. And Americans are eating out more than ever. Couple that with far less activity than ever before, and the obesity issue comes as no surprise.

What is the answer? EAT LESS, MOVE MORE!