29 March 11 Don't Let Your Weight Cut Your Life Short!

Too often, we find our drive to sustain lifestyle choices that allow us to lose weight or maintain lost weight start to wane. It is precisely at that point that we have to remind ourselves why it is important to make the effort – to live. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we might be walking time bombs since we don't always feel bad with excess body fat. But excess fat has profound effects on both our physical and mental states of health.

Since I have lost loved ones from diseases where extra body fat played a direct role in their demise, weight control is a special interest of mine. It pains me to witness my loved ones, as well as patients, die young or suffer because of their body weight. That is the main reason why I specialize in weight control.

Too much body fat, especially around the waist, means we are more likely to die at a younger age. Our risk for chronic diseases that reduce quality of life, disable, and/or kill us is also higher. Obesity is typically defined by having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ? 30. BMI is our weight in kilograms divided by the square of our height in meters. Waist circumference will add more information about disease risk. Men with a waist larger than 40 inches (102 cm) and women with a waist larger than 35 inches (88 cm) are at higher risk for diseases associated with obesity. See the list below for diseases and conditions that are related to obesity in the United States (and in other industrialized nations).

Heart Disease
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Stroke
Liver and gallbladder disease
Cancer (esp. colon, uterus, esophagus, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer)
Metabolic Syndrome
Psychosocial problems (e.g. stress, depression, discrimination, isolation)
Joint problems (e.g. osteoarthritis)
Sleep Apnea and respiratory problems
Abnormal menstrual periods and infertility in women

The next time you feel that it is just too much to do what it takes to lose weight or maintain lost weight, I want you to think about how badly you want to live. The choices you make now will affect your ability to live tomorrow. Don't wait to make changes. Your health is just as important as anything else you are going to do today, so make time for it. If you don't, then you might not have any time left.

Katherine Isacks, MPS, RD

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Disclaimer: The information provided here does not constitute medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, please visit your healthcare provider or medical professional.

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29 March 11 Don't Let Your Weight Cut Your Life Short!

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