Dec 3, 2010 Karen Gaskell
Obesity Poses Numerous Health Risks - freedigitalphotos.net
Researchers examined data from nearly 20 long-term studies involving some 1.5 million healthy, white adults. Individuals who were overweight were at least 13% more likely to die during the course of the studies, which ranged in length from five to 28 years.
Previous research has proposed that being a little chubby is not unhealthy, and may even have positive health benefits. "Having a little extra meat on your bones, if that meat happens to be fat, is harmful, not beneficial," noted the study’s lead author, Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society.
The study, published in December, 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted in response to a highly debated 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that proclaimed being overweight didn’t shorten a person’s lifespan.
Facts about Overweight and Obesity
An estimated 1.6 billion adults are overweight, and some 400 million are considered obese worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Approximately 66% of adults and 33% of children and teens in the U.S. or are either overweight or obese.
Obesity means having too much body fat, while being overweight is defined as weighing too much. A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher is considered to be overweight. A BMI of 30 or greater is thought of as obese.
Being overweight and obese increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, breathing difficulties, and certain cancers, reports the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Your doctor may recommend medications or weight loss surgery if excess weight causing serious health problems.
Reducing Your Risk of Obesity
Genetics, metabolism and lifestyle choices all contribute to your weight. Developing healthy eating and exercise habits can help manage your weight and guard against obesity. A nutritious diet includes lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Aim for 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise like bicycling or walking most days of the week. Talk to your health care provider before launching a new exercise program if you have been sedentary for an extended period of time, or have any medical conditions.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic, “Weight Loss Basics”, (Accessed December 3, 2010)
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, “What are Overweight and Obesity?” (AccessedDecember 3, 2010)
Star Tribune, “Overweight? Even a few extra pounds raises risk for premature death, large US study finds” Accessed December 3, 2010)
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, “Conditions in Depth, Obesity” Accessed December 3, 2010)
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.
No comments:
Post a Comment