Slow and Steady...

I was looking through the obesity headlines the other day, and I saw an article about Giyen Kim, a woman who has made a New Year's resolution for herself. This isn't any ordinary resolution, it is something that we could all learn from. She has made the goal of losing about a pound or so a week, which may sound ridiculous to some, but in reality, it is a serious approach at a lifestyle change. These changes do not come overnight, even though the diet pill companies want you to think so. At this pace, Giyen can really learn what is leading her to put on weight. She can see whether that is eating bad things, living a sedentary life, or maybe a mix of both. The article explains that she participates in physical activity every day, which is the recommended amount advised by experts. She is well on her way to a better and longer life.

Some have criticized her and, I am sure, many other people for a slow progress, but I am confident that this "slow approach" will be more effective in the long run. Americans must learn what is causing them to gain weight, and then work at their own pace to change their lives. Sure, there are drastic measures that we can take (pills, liposuction, gastric bypass, etc) but the best and most lasting measure is to change one's lifestyle to take and keep the weight off. I believe that the American health care system focuses too much on "fixing the problem at hand" and not preventing the real threat to our country (obesity and other chronic disease). To Giyen, I say keep it up and don't let anyone get you down.

FAQ's

What is Obesity?

According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity is defined as "the condition of an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass." Another definition explains obesity as a weight 30% or more above what is considered normal as defined by a standard-accepted height/weight chart.

Why Should Obesity Be Taken Seriously?

According to the NIDDK, Obese individuals have a 50 to 100% increased risk of death from all causes as compared to normal-weight individuals.

What is the Difference Between Being Overweight and Obese?

The CDC defines overweight as referring to increased body weight in relation to height as determined by comparison to a standard height/weight chart. People who are considered overweight have not reached a high enough weight to qualify as being obese. As a rule of thumb, the medical community usually considers someone to be overweight rather than obese if their weight is 10% higher than normal as definied by height/weight charts.

What Causes Obesity?

The bottom line is, when a person takes in more calories than one puts out, they will become overweight. Without sufficient physical activity and calorie control, this person will become obese. There are some things like Cushing's Disease, medications, and genetics that can increase the risk of being overweight or obese, but can do a lot to overcome that risk.

What are the Health Risks Involved with Obesity?

According to the CDC, Obesity is a potentially deadly condition. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity account for some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Some health risks include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, bladder control problems, gout, just to name a few.

What are the costs associated with overweight and obesity?

According to The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, the cost of obesity in the United States in 2000 was more than $117 billion ($61 billion direct and $56 billion indirect).

How Many Calories Should I Consume?

To determine your approximate caloric needs, you can easily compute your basal metabolic rate. This is the number of calories your body needs to maintain its basic functions and your current weight. You can determine your BMR by multiplying your current weight by 10. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, then eating 1,800 calories a day would be your BMR. Keep in mind that this does not account your exercise or activity level. A person that participates a lot of physical activity and takes in more calories would obviously have a higher BMI but would not be overweight. To lose weight, you can subtract some daily calories and increase the amount of daily physical activity.

What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity among U.S. adults?

Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999–2002 indicate that the following percentages of U.S. adults are overweight or obese:

An estimated 30 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older - over 60 million people - are obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

An estimated 65 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are either overweight or obese, defined as having a BMI of 25 or higher.

What is the prevalence of overweight among U.S. children?

Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999–2002 indicate that an estimated 16 percent of children and adolescents ages 6–19 years are overweight. For children, overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC growth charts for age and gender.

What is the difference between being overweight and being obese?

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI).

An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.

An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit Body Mass Index.