The obesity facts in America are staggering: More than one-third of American adults—more than 72 million people—are considered obese. In addition, per the 2007-08 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, almost 70 percent of American adults are believed to be overweight or obese. The number of obese and overweight Americans has been rising steadily since 1960, and with these increasing numbers comes a rise in the number of Americans suffering from obesity-related heart problems. Getting obesity help is essential in reducing and avoiding heart problems in the future. Here are some tips on how to fight obesity:
—Know when you are nearing obesity, which is defined as when a person is 30 pounds heavier than his or her normal weight and/or when his or her body mass index is 20 percent or more above his or her normal weight. Obesity doesn’t happen overnight, but obesity help can be sought immediately and progress can be made almost as quickly.
—Part of seeking obesity help involves identifying its root causes. Some people have obesity in the genes. For others, obesity is a byproduct of their lifestyle and surroundings, so to speak. Not exercising while continuing to eat the cheapest and most caloric foods possible is a recipe for obesity.
—The good news is even a little bit of obesity help can go a long way towards improving your health and reducing the odds of suffering from future obesity-related ailments. A good goal for obese or overweight people is to shed 10 percent of their body weight. For a man who is 6-feet tall and 240 pounds, a 10 percent weight loss would reduce his BMI from 32.5 percent to 29.3 percent—still on the high end of overweight, but below obese. Such a weight loss would represent less than half the weight he would need to lose to fall back into his normal BMI category, but a 10 percent loss is an excellent start and can lead to better health as long as a patient keeps that weight off.
—Why should you seek advice on how to fight obesity? Simply put, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to suffer from chronic heart woes. Statistics show that those who are 20 percent or more overweight have a far “better” chance of developing heart disease. And those who consume too many calories or other harmful items such as trans fats and saturated fats are likely to have a higher level of triglycerides and blood cholesterol, all of which damages the heart and blood vessel systems and leads to a higher risk of heart disease.
—While it can be difficult for people to admit they need obesity help and even tougher to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is essential to learn how to fight obesity. If you’re trying to lose weight, start small and build slowly. Begin by slightly modifying eating habits—for example, eliminate after-dinner snacking—and beginning a light exercise program. You will not shed all that weight or run a marathon in a week, but incremental gains with obesity help will lead to improved health and the type of habits that can yield positive results for decades to come.
