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!
