by: Bridget Mwape

What is Obesity?

Obesity means an excessively high proportion of body fat. Overweight
refers to an excess of body weight, but not necessarily body fat.
Health professionals use a measurement called body mass index (BMI)
to classify an adult's weight as healthy, overweight, or obese. BMI
describes body weight relative to height and is correlated with
total body fat content in most adults. Generally, the higher your
BMI, the higher your health risk, and the risk increases even
further if your waist size is greater than 40 inches for men or 35
inches for women.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop heart
disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease,
and joint pain caused by excess uric acid (gout). Excess weight can
also cause interrupted breathing during sleep and wearing away of
the joints (osteoarthritis). Carrying extra weight means carrying an
extra risk for certain types of cancer, including endometrial,
breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Losing Weight

Most overweight people should lose weight gradually. Sometimes,
people with serious health problems associated with obesity may have
legitimate reasons for losing weight rapidly. If so, a physician's
supervision is required. Experts recommend that people who are
overweight or obese should concentrate on engaging in regular
physical activity and maintaining healthy eating habits.

See your doctor for advice about your overall health risk and the
weight loss options that are best for you. Together, decide whether
you should go on a moderate diet or whether other options might be
appropriate. Check with your doctor and make sure that your health
status allows lowering your caloric intake and increasing your
physical activity.

Successful weight loss and healthy weight management depend on
sensible goals and expectations. Doctors, dieticians, and other
experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer
calories and increase your physical activity. Follow a
calorie-reduced balanced diet that provides for 1-2 pounds of weight
loss a week. Be sure to include at least five servings a day of
fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean meat and low
fat dairy products. Make time in your day for some form of physical
activity. Walking is an excellent form of physical activity that
almost everyone can do. In addition to helping to control weight,
physical activity decreases the risk of dying from coronary heart
disease and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension,
and certain cancers.

About the author:
Copyright © 2005. Bridget Mwape writes for the Nutritional
Supplements Website at: http://www.nutritional-supplements.org.ukand
she's also a regular contributor to the Outdoor Gear Website at
http://www.outdoor-gear.org.uk/