If your BMI is greater than 30 and/or you are 30 pounds or more over your ideal weight you ARE obese and should consider taking your health much more seriously. This is no small matter and not to be taken lightly because...
Thousands Die Yearly Due To Obesity
Poor nutrition and physical inactivity account for some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Obesity-related illness results in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year in the United States and billions of dollars in health care costs.Being obese causes an increased risk for developing a number of serious and potentially lethal health problems, including: hypertension/high blood pressure, non-insulin-dependent or Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and gallstones and gall bladder disease. The Centers for Disease Control also include the following in their list of possible health consequences of obesity:
* High blood cholesterol, dyslipidemia
* Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
* Congestive heart failure
* Cholescystitis and cholelithiasis
* Gout
* Osteoarthritis
* Some types of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon)
* Complications of pregnancy
* Poor female reproductive health (menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation)
* Bladder control problems (such as stress incontinence)
* Psychological disorders (such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image, and low self- esteem)
Gender-Specific Health Risks
There are also other gender-specific health risks among obese women and men. For example:
According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, if a woman’s waist circumference is more than 35 inches, she is considered to have a high amount of visceral fat, which is the type of fat that surrounds the internal organs. This type of fat is associated with higher risk of certain, serious diseases (e.g. liver disease) and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Several of the most severe and prevalent life-threatening illnesses among the male population are also correlated to obesity. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Obese men are also more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea, a very serious, possibly life-threatening condition which is associated with stroke and heart attack.
According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, if a woman’s waist circumference is more than 35 inches, she is considered to have a high amount of visceral fat, which is the type of fat that surrounds the internal organs. This type of fat is associated with higher risk of certain, serious diseases (e.g. liver disease) and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Several of the most severe and prevalent life-threatening illnesses among the male population are also correlated to obesity. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Obese men are also more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea, a very serious, possibly life-threatening condition which is associated with stroke and heart attack.
Why Lose Weight
With these health risks in mind, the question is not "Why lose weight?", it is instead -- "What better reason can there be?"If the cosmetic benefit of a healthy weight is a not priority for you, I certainly understand. If the idea of fitting into a certain size has lost its appeal, more power to you!
But think about it honestly.
None of us -- no one -- would choose an early death due to obesity by eating everything in sight versus living a long, healthy life by eating a healthy diet or would you?!
If you need help with hunger pangs and/or food cravings you may want to consider trying a diet supplement designed to control hunger pangs and food cravings because sometimes it is just that little bit of extra help that enables us to reach goals.
