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The Epidemic of Obesity: Time to Take ActionOld message, new urgency: Do what it takes to maintain healthy weight.
George L. Blackburn, MD
Associate EditorIn the wake of September 11, our attention has necessarily focused on concerns about the safety of our communities and loved ones. But despite our understandable sorrow and fears, it�s important to keep in mind that for most of us, the greatest ongoing risks to our health are largely under our own control.
For example, a study in the September 12, 2001 Journal of the American Medical Association confirms that more Americans than ever before are obese: In 2000, almost one in five US adults fit the criteria for obesity, defined as a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.* This represents a 61 percent increase in obesity in only nine years. In addition, nearly 60 percent of American adults are now considered overweight (a BMI of 25 or greater), compared with 45 percent in 1991.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Exercise more and eat healthfully. Doing one or the other isn�t enough.
Don�t go it alone. Enlist a friend or family member as an exercise partner. When making healthy changes in your own diet, encourage family members to join you.
Eat a healthy breakfast, including fiber, fruit, and low-fat dairy products. This is the most important meal of the day.
Don�t skip meals; you only end up hungrier later.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. A brisk walk is an easy way to get started.
Exercise in the morning, if possible, so you don�t fall prey to time pressures at the end of the day.
Cut down on TV and computer time. Use that time for physical activity.
Seek help. Many hospitals offer programs in nutrition and weight loss, and weight-loss support groups can also help. Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot While a few extra pounds may simply affect your appearance or make your clothes feel snug, those who are substantially overweight or obese put themselves at risk for serious health problems. Obesity increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer, the top three killers in the US. Every year more than 300,000 Americans die of obesity-related illnesses, according to the JAMA study, which was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Paralleling the increase in obesity over the last decade, diabetes is also sharply on the rise: The number of people reporting a diagnosis of diabetes increased nearly 50 percent from 1990 to 2000, from 4.9 percent to 7.3 percent of US adults. Because so many people with early signs of diabetes remain undiagnosed, the true prevalence is probably even higher, the CDC says. The increasing incidence of diabetes is made more worrisome by the disease�s complications. These include blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage (see HN, September 2001), and circulation problems that sometimes lead to amputation.
The good news is that many of the consequences of obesity, including diabetes and its complications, are preventable. Several recent studies show that lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise and eating more healthfully, can reduce the risk of diabetes along with unwanted pounds. One such study, in the May 3, 2001 New England Journal of Medicine, showed that middle-aged adults at risk for diabetes who lost weight, reduced dietary fat, increased fiber intake, and exercised at least 30 minutes a day cut their chance of developing diabetes by more than half (see HN, June 2001).
Although this kind of diet-and-exercise formula is simple in theory, we seem to have difficulty putting it into practice. Most Americans simply don�t get enough exercise. In the JAMA study, 27 percent of adults reported getting no exercise at all, while another 28 percent said they were not regularly active. That�s more than half of US adults who qualify as sedentary. In addition, we regularly succumb to the temptations of easily accessible, high-fat, high-calorie convenience food, instead of shoring up our diet with healthful fruits, vegetables, and grains. According to the study, a whopping 76 percent of Americans aren�t eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It�s no wonder we�re getting fatter.
These overwhelming numbers tell us that, even in times like these, we can�t be complacent about our health. Although it may be tempting to indulge ourselves for the sake of �living for today,� this is not the time to give up on our health and fitness goals. Remember, while there is relatively little each of us can do about random acts of violence, there is much we can do to improve our chances of living a long and healthy life (see box).
*To calculate your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 705. Divide that number by your height in inches, then divide that result again by your height in inches. You can also calculate BMI online at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi
For more information
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, (877) 946-4627, www.niddk.nih.gov/ (See information on Weight Loss and Control.) American Dietetic Association, (800) 366-1655, www.eatright.org
