USA Obesity Rates Reach Epidemic Proportions in Adults and Children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

* The rate of obesity among children and youths tripled over the past 30 years; and
* Overweight people are more at risk for diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, and other ailments diminishing quality of life and causing premature death (The Boston Globe, October 11,2003).

-- According to the U.S. Surgeon General report obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year.

It is alarming that childhood obesity affects more than 15 percent of the population under 18 years old who are classified as overweight. An estimated 22 million children under five are estimated to be overweight worldwide. The prevalence of obese children aged 6-to-11 years has more than doubled since the 1960s as well as an increase in the number of teen boys and girls who are obese. Many of our future generation could die young because they are obese as children.

The World Health Organization says that overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. The non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with obesity include respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems and infertility. The more life-threatening problems fall into four main areas: CVD problems; conditions associated with insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes; certain types of cancers, especially the hormonally related and large-bowel cancers; and gallbladder disease.

Raised BMI also increases the risks of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometroium, kidney and gallbladder. Chronic overweight and obesity contribute significantly to osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in adults. In the analyses carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21 kg/m2.

Obesity not only impacts lifestyle but can also lead to lower self-esteem, cause depression and discomfort in social situations, and significantly diminish quality of life. Qualified people are overlooked for job opportunities because they are overweight.

Statistically,
* 58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese; 3 Million morbidly Obese
* Eight out of 10 over 25's Overweight
* 78% of American's not meeting basic activity level recommendations
* 25% completely Sedentary
* 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs. old since 1990

So what exactly does obesity mean? Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. Obesity has been more precisely defined by the National Institutes of Health (the NIH) as a BMI of 30 and above. (A BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.) A person has traditionally been considered obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. Ideal weight takes into account the person's height, age, sex, and build. For example, A 5-foot-7-inch adult who weighs 190 pounds would have a BMI of 30, which is considered the threshold for obesity.

Weight gain and obesity are caused by consuming more calories than the body needs and most commonly by eating a diet high in fat and calories, living a sedentary lifestyle, or both. We live in a country where food is readily available and fast food and processed foods are very convenient to our fast pace lives. Children spend more time on the computer than they do getting exercise. What people don't realize that they are also toxic. Processed foods contain ingredients that are toxic to the body and those toxins are stored in the fat cells, creating an environment for disease.

What you can do to start losing weight right now making any one of these changes will lower your weight. Making all of them will transform your life!

* Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life. View this as a life style change and not as a diet,

* Enhance your nutritional program with a complete multivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect and our food sources have been deficient for minerals for decades.

* Start adding healthier foods to your diet such as: fruits, vegetables,lean meat and beans and stop eating foods with empty calories such as candy and soda. Soda by the way is highly acidic and it throws your PH out of balance. This also creates an environment where disease can live. It takes 32 glasses of water to neutralize the impact of 1 can of soda on your body, and it would be impossible to drink that much water in one day!

*Adding a greens helps to alkaline your body, balance your immune system and detox your body. A good one would have the nutritional value of eight plus servings of fruits and vegetables.

* Detoxify your body. Toxins encapsulate in your fat cells and are difficult to remove. Much of the weight on our bodies is caused by toxins accumulating in the fat cells. There are systems available, that are all natural, easy to use, that will help detoxify your fat cells while tighten, toning and firming the skin.

* Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.

* Find an exercise program that works for you that you can stick to. Make it fun and commit to doing a regular routine. If you need to find a group of people who will exercise with you.

* If you eat something bad for you, or miss a day of exercise, don't give up. Instead pick up right where you left off and start again.

* Stop procrastinating and begin your journey to overcome your weight issues and return to a healthy balanced body right now. It is never too late to start a new way of living. Every day that you put it off brings you closer to more physical complications in your life.

I support you in discovering a healthy new you and I support organizations that focus on fighting childhood obesity!

Katelyn
"The Inch Loss Diva"

Katelyn Mariah MA, LICSW is a mental health therapist with training in nutrition and wellness. She is helping people around the country lose inches and maintain healthy lifestyles. You can reach her at hummingbird@usfamily.net or visit http://www.inchlossdiva.com for Nutritional supplementation, Weight loss and Detoxification.

The Ultimate Body Applicator Cosmetic System for detoxification and inch loss with lasting results: [http://www.asmalleryou.net]

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