Health

Photo by Pink Sherbet PhotographyObesity contributes to a higher number of disease than any other single clinical finding.

Today people are less able to identify that they are overweight.It appears they do not realise that they are overweight due to an underestimation in their perception of overweight. Therefore many overweight people will continue to be so and not seek further Health interventions. I use the description “perception of overweight has declined” but, is this phenomenon of “Underestimating overweight” reference 1 July 2008) merely evidence of a regression to the mean of values. People have lived happily and haplessly through the fast food of the 90s, or early 21st century Diet. These young people have now grown up entirely in this culture. The problem is that society had blindly taken what appeared to be the easy route without first testing the ground. With regression to the mean a number of previously not obese people will become obese merely because they are living in an increasingly overweight society. Visual and cultural queues now invoke the higher intake of high fat calories,cars and a sedentary lifestyle in spite of healthy genes. This lifestyle of fast food is seen in cultures worldwide.

What determines overweight. Today we accept the BMI (Body Mass Index) as a rough guidance. However, to measure a risk fact to ones Health, medical experts now depend on waist measurement as a stronger predictor of risk to Health. Recent research (reference 2) has found that as little as five pounds overweight can cause increased risk factors to Health. Most people would not consider that 5 pounds overweight is a significant risk factor to their Health.

Being overweight is a health risk because it promotes diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart and blood vessel disease, It is associated with lower mobility and social contact. As expected,those who sit at desks and computers for many hours, and do not exercise regularly, are more likely to become overweight. Add a fast food Diet and high saturated fat Diet,and much excess fat accumulates in the body. The theory is quite simple. Importantly, we pride ourselves on our distinct genetic inheritance. It is important to remember the singular effect of genetic inheritance as a major influence in a person’s health. Therefore not all people will have a similar effect from a similar lifestyle. However society is affected only by what happens to most individuals. We are alerted to the real increase in numbers of people who are overweight.

Had people realised that fast food / high saturated fat foods would have such a harmful effect. then the health alert would have been sounded loud and clear. So was it? I think so! Governments, the providers of fast food, and lastly the consumer, have not listened seriously to health advice. There are many overweight people in the UK who have the incorrect perception of overweight and do not realise that they are overweight. They are continuing to live in ignorance of their health risk, without the knowledge that,if are currently at increased risk of preventable disease. I feel this is similar to a state of a cholera outbreak where no health alert is sounded to improve the lifestyle. So, If you do not perceive yourself as overweight, a BMI (Body Mass Index) measurement will direct on this.

Obtain your BMI as an indicator to your weight status. This is not the most important indicator of risk of heart disease, diabetes.

Obtain a measurement of your waistline. The measurement of waistline is very important. A high waist measure is the strongest risk indicator of heart disease. Waist measure should be less than 90-100cm for males, less than 80cm for females). To begin to exercise, start with a trial of gentle walking exercises of about a half mile.A healthy person in reasonable health should be able to do this. It is important to check with your doctor if you already are taking medication or complaining of any chest pains. It is important to find a comfortable level of exercise to start with initially. There are online resources, and a dedicated website to improving your health and reducing weight. There are several helpful free books and reports on Fibre, Diet, healthy fats. There is also a medical advice telephone line. Diabetes Type 2 can also be promoted by certain drugs.

In an overweight person, there is an increased risk of heart disease, higher than normal blood pressure, and diabetes type 2. Being overweight also stresses a normal supply of insulin, places excess pressure on joints hence arthritis: it can block up vessels to cause stroke, claudication, visual loss.

Explanatory

Reference 1. British Medical Journal JULY 2008

Reference 2. Obesity Journal August 08

BMI is a ratio of body weight in kilograms to height in metres.It does not measure the proportion of body fat present which is a disadvantage.

 

 

Author: RD Trang
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker

Health