Obese Like Me

You might know what your body weight is, but that alone will not tell you if your body weight is a healthy weight for you to be at and if you are not sure than you should know about the BMI. BMI is an acronym for Body Mass Index and it is a way in which men and women alike can use a simple formula to come up with a number that will tell them if they are at their ideal body weight.

The BMI uses only two factors when determining it s end number; your height and your body weight. Once you have both, you simply divide your body weight in pounds by the number of inches tall you are squared and then multiply it by a conversion factor of 703. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds and you are 5’5” tall the conversion would be as follows:

150 X 65 –squared- X 703 = 24.96

The end number is what you will want it focus on as that will be your BMI number and will help you to be able to determine if you are at a healthy body weight. When you use the BMI there are certain numbers that determine if your body weight is healthy or not. The BMI chart is as follows:

BMI Number Below 18.5 = Underweight
BMI Number Between 18.5 and 24.9 = Ideal Body Weight
BMI Number Between 26 and 29.9 = Overweight
BMI Number Over 30 = Obese

For the most part, BMI is an accurate measure of healthy body weight however, it doesn’t directly measure body fat percentages. While this is not normally a big deal, it does spell out one possible flaw for the BMI. The BMI only takes into account your total body weight and not whether your body weight is comprised of mostly fat or mostly muscle. This can make a big difference.

For example, a professional athlete who weighs in at 220 pounds may have a very low percentage of body fat and look like a Greek god, but according to the BMI they might be considered obese. So, you have to look at what your actual body is mainly consisted of if you want to accurately use the BMI to measure your healthy body weight. Of course, since most people are not professional athletes, this is rarely a concern.

Everyone wants to stay at an ideal body weight and also stay at a healthy body weight. This is especially important in today’s world that has an obese population of almost epic proportions.

While the BMI is not perfect it is an extremely accurate measure for healthy body weight for the most part when it comes to the average Joe and Jane. If you are looking for an easy and efficient way to determine how healthy your body weight is, use the BMI. That is of course unless you are a professional athlete, in which case, your healthy body weight is probably not your top concern.

Banking on the success of NBC’s Biggest Loser, it seems many other networks are producing weight loss inspired shows. With more and more Americans being categorized as obese, these shows are a reflection of what is happening in America.

Obesity is a condition in which a person’s body fat has reached a level that can have adverse effects on health. Sadly, today there are more obese Americans than there are those that are just considered overweight. And, the number of morbidly, or extremely, obese individuals is on the rise.

While many new shows are focusing on efforts to help obese individuals lose weight, TLC’s new show Heavily Ever After takes a different approach. This show documents the struggles and problems that obese individuals face in their everyday lives.

Freddie and Kay are the stars of this new show and it’s through their lives that we can learn about the obstacles that being oversized present. In the show’s premiere, March 6th, the couple decides to host a dinner party – something they haven’t done in years due to Freddie’s size. For years Freddie hasn’t been able to go to their dining room because it is upstairs.

But, due to health complications, which almost cost Freddie his life, the Combs decide they must make changes to improve their health. But, until as they lose the weight, TLC allows us to follow them on the struggles they continue to endure.

Being morbidly obese poses problems in all sorts of ways that many can’t imagine. For example, on a trip to an antique shop, merchandise must be moved in order for Freddie, in a wheelchair due to his weight, to move throughout the store.

Through Heavily Ever After, viewers will get to know this couple and the obstacles they face every day. Perhaps some viewers will be comforted to learn they are not alone in their own struggles. Others may warm to the personalities of these stars and find a new compassion for the obese population. Tune in to TLC if you want a glimpse into the lives of Kay and Freddie.

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Type 2 diabetes) are two of the biggest reasons to worry about the rate of obesity.

According to the American Diabetes Association, chronic diseases (such as diabetes) are responsible for 70% of U.S. deaths and 70% of U.S. health care costs. Recently, researchers have found more evidence linking diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have concluded that people with diabetes are 2-to-4 times more likely to have CVD and up to 5 times more likely to have a stroke than those who do not have diabetes.

Cardiovascular problems in America lead to over 1000 deaths per day. That’s a frightening statistic.

Almost every one of us knows someone with diabetes. Nearly 16 million people in the United States have diabetes, and another 13.4 million people have impaired fasting glucose (sugar) or “pre-diabetes”. By 2010, more than 10% of the U.S. population will have diabetes and by 2020, 157 million Americans will be living with a chronic condition, costing $1 trillion to treat these patients.

In developing countries, economical improvement is often associated with a rapid increase in obesity. In fact, the prevalence of obesity in these developing nations often overshoots that which occurs in Western countries. Fortunately, the rate of obesity begins to decrease and this is correlated with a higher education and socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, this means that poorer individuals often continue to become obese and diabetic.

Here is a simplified version of what happens in Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. Over a lifetime, a diet high in fat and sugar lead to “insulin resistance”. If someone eats a lot of sugar, this results in chronically high insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that signals cells to extract glucose from the bloodstream. Insulin resistance refers to the inability of the cells to extract glucose from the bloodstream even when the insulin signal is very strong.

With a high sugar diet, insulin is released very often and in very high amounts. Therefore, the cells of the body become insensitive to insulin and this leads to a decrease in the uptake of sugar (glucose) by cells of the body. The elevated glucose levels may be detrimental to many tissues in the body.

Fortunately, at any age you can begin to combat diabetes with exercise and a change in body composition. By decreasing body fat and increasing muscle mass, you will have more receptors willing to deal with insulin.

Strength training will also help control blood sugar in diabetics. Thirty-one diabetics (average age = 66) were split into strength-training program or sedentary groups. The results showed that after 16 weeks, the training group had better blood sugar control, likely by increasing the body’s uptake of blood sugar.

According to one of the authors, muscle accounts for up to 80% blood sugar uptake. Weight training increases muscle mass and thus the ability to increase sugar disposal. In addition, contractions from any type of exercise result in glucose uptake. Consult your doctor prior to any type of training!

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Mens Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Author: Craig Ballantyne
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Electric Pressure Cooker

Everyone’s heard of weight loss camps for kids — “fat camp” as they’re often called. But would you ever consider sending your child to one? Many parents don’t, because they’re afraid their child will take it as a criticism: “You’re fat, and we’re embarrassed, so we’re sending you away.” But the children who go to weight-loss camps usually love it, and the parents are glad they went.

A weight-loss camp isn’t all about losing weight. It’s not a “boot camp” full of rigorous exercise and physical punishment. It’s a regular summer camp, with all the traditional summer-camp activities. The difference is that the food served in the dining hall is healthy and nutritious, and there are some additional classes on nutrition and self-esteem.

So, why not send your child to a regular summer camp? After all, there’s lots of hiking, swimming and other physical activities at camp. Your kid is bound to lose a few pounds, and without the stigma of going to a “fat camp.”

The crucial difference is that a regular camp would have the same mix of kids who might be teasing your overweight child already. At a weight-loss camp, there’s no teasing or making fun. Everyone’s in the same boat, so no one points fingers. Your overweight son might refuse to go swimming at a regular camp because he’s embarrassed to take his shirt off. At a weight-loss camp, he’ll feel more comfortable and accepted. Thus, he’s more likely to exercise and enjoy himself.

At a regular summer camp, the camp counselors might single out overweight children too. They’ll be dragging up in the rear on the hikes, unable to perform some of the physical tasks that the other kids do. At a weight-loss camp, the playing field is leveled.

Many overweight kids often don’t have a lot of friends among their peers. They can become shy and withdrawn — or, the opposite, overly goofy and attention seeking, desperate to earn praise. Weight-loss camps introduce them to children who can relate to their specific problems, children who suffer the same taunts and cruelties back in the “real world.” It can work as a sort of support group, and everyone knows moral support is one of the most crucial things in losing weight and getting in shape.

It is important to note that weight loss camps for kids won’t solve your child’s weight problem all by itself. It took a lifetime to develop his or her eating habits, so it will take more than a few weeks at summer camp to change them. And while weight loss might be rapid in the active, healthy environment of camp, it may not be possible or indeed healthy to lose ALL the excess weight in just one summer. It can be a good start, though!

Sign up for Julie Pearce’s free Childhood Obesity newsletter – Overflowing with lots of great information to help you discover more about Weight Loss Camps for Kids.

Author: Julie Pearce
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Assisted living

As a parent, we can attempt to teach our children all manners of guidelines for their life. Whether it is important for us to teach our children how to be polite and courteous, how to treat others how we wish to be treated or even how they should always be honest; it is fair to say, every parent will have their own idea as to what morals, or rules for life are most important to them. However, in addition to helping carve decent individuals and help in their child’s school education, it is vital that they also aid in teaching their children about something more pressing; their health.

It is a sad fact that along with the percentage of obese children increasing within the US, there is also an increased number of children who are being referred to adult obesity treatment centers in an attempt to decrease their weight, stop their addiction to food and ultimately; save their life. Treatments such as appetite suppressants, metabolism increasers and even drastic measures such as gastric bypass surgery are all potential methods of stopping this disease from affecting the lives of our children. That is, unless we opt to stop it ourselves first. As many parents who also struggle with their weight will understand, there is no quick and easy way in which to shift the pounds but while helping our children to adopt a healthy lifestyle, we can help them lose weight and decrease their chances of a short lifespan.

The first step we need to take in order to help our children fight obesity is to firstly aim towards stopping them from gaining weight as opposed to focusing on losing weight from their frame as a first point. Often, it can be more beneficial for your child for you to focus on helping them adapt to regular exercise and a healthy diet in an attempt to halt any further weight gain, and then allow them to ‘grow’ into their weight as often, overweight children may lose their excess weight as they grow taller. If your child is severely overweight, your aim will be for them to stop losing weight or if they have severe eating problems; try to limit their weight gain to no more than 5 pounds a year. If you are able to control how much weight your child is gaining, you can then move towards an overhaul on their diet which can be designed by a pediatrician or a nutritionist. It is important in relation to children, to not focus too much on their BMI (Body Mass Index), unless they are of a considerable weight. This is because as a child is growing, especially throughout their teenage years, their weight will change as they grow taller.

When it comes to helping your child lose weight, it is all about a gradual change to their diet and lifestyle. As many overweight children can become addicted to sugary foods, it can be difficult to get them to eat a healthier meal. The ideal way in which to aid in their weight loss is to decrease the amount of calories they are consuming through food and drink and encourage them to start exercising, even if it is light exercise to begin with. For steady weight loss, the burning of 250 calories a day will help your child lose a steady 1 pound per week and as their diet and exercise regiment gets better, they will start to lose more weight.

One thing all parents should remember is that obesity is not caused by a parent not caring enough about their child or caring too much. Any child can end up on the slippery slope that is obesity if they adopt an unhealthy lifestyle. However, by making a few rules and changes within your home, you can help diminish their chances of being overweight later in life. Firstly, limit how many calories your child consumes through drink. Soda and carbonated drinks contain high levels of sugar which can cause weight gain, so encourage them to drink milk, water or water based drinks as often as possible and save soda for special occasions. Fast food should also be a once in a while treat or, not eaten at all. If your child is frequently active, the odd fast food meal every few months will not cause damage but frequent trips to the burger bar can leave them without the vitamins and nutrients they need. Finally, don’t limit their calories from their food with precision. If you focus too much on what is deemed ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and vocalize these opinions in front of your children, you could cause them to have a complex with food. Provide them with three, healthy, balanced meals a day which allows them all the food groups. Only then will they get to have the best of both worlds and learn not to gorge on foods which may make them gain weight, as they will be provided with a small portion of these foods.

When it comes to our children becoming obese, this can stem from a number of different factors. However, more often than not, it can come from our children not being knowledgeable in the foods they need to eat as opposed to the foods they shouldn’t. By teaching our children on the ins and outs of a balanced diet as they grow older, then they will be equipped with the knowledge they need to make the right decisions when it comes to food which could save their life.