Am I Overweight
Am I too fat? Am I obese? Am I just a little overweight? These are some of the most commonly asked questions among people throughout the world. Maybe you have put on a few pounds. This doesn't necessarily mean you have a weight problem. It does tell you, you should begin to take steps to see if you may be overweight.
Don't Live By Scales Alone
Don’t rely on the bathroom scales alone to tell you whether you need to lose weight. Scales can give you an indication, but there are many factors that may account for the extra weight. For instance, people who begin a strength training regimen often see a gain in weight. This usually means that they are becoming more fit. After all, muscles weigh more than fat.
Body Mass Index
Another indicator as to whether you are overweight is your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI takes your height into consideration in determining whether you are overweight or obese. An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. If your BMI is over 30, you need to start planning to shed some weight right away. Ideally, your BMI should be between 20 and 25, but if yours is a little above this, don't panic. How can you find out your BMI? As a start, many modern bathroom scales also can give you your BMI count.
Apple-Shaped or Pear-Shaped?
The way the extra weight is distributed around your body can also be a significant factor. Doctors have found that the shape of your body is a factor in determining the extent to which you need to lose weight. They have divided people into two categories of body shapes, apple and pear-shaped people.
Apple-shaped:
If you are apple-shaped, you tend to store fat around your middle. This shape is most common among men. When you think of someone as having a beer belly, that someone is usually a man. Apple-shapes are known to have increased risk of a large range of illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. They are also more likely to have raised cholesterol.
Pear-shaped:
If you are pear-shaped, you tend to store any excess fat around the buttocks and thighs. People with pear-shapes seem to be have lower levels of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. But don’t make your weight loss decision on your body shape alone.
Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat?
Women are often associated with pear shape. After all, the wifely question every husband dreads (Do you think these jeans make me look fat?) is a buttocks and thigh question. Heart disease is skyrocketing among women. The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health states that more women die of heart disease than anything else.
Overweight Consequences
Being seriously overweight has major consequences for your health. Health conditions related to overweight and obesity include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and many more life inhibiting diseases. You can find yourself unable to keep up with the kids or grandchildren, unable to walk more than a few steps before running out of breath, and unable to find that love of life that you had when you were younger.
Get Rid of that Weight
If your bathroom scales, BMI and your body type indicate you are overweight, you should seriously consider a plan to shed that weight. Your first step should be to consult your doctor. Your doctor can help you develop a plan of diet and exercise that is geared to your specific health situation. That way you know that the plan you are following will help you lose weight in a safe and healthy way.
It is important that you take care of yourself. It is easy for your weight to creep up on you over time. You’ll find that one day you will step on the scales and nearly faint at the results. Obesity, however, is a condition that you can fight and overcome. It takes being aware of your body, good planning and persistence. Good luck in your fight.
For information on how the proper diet can help you in your fight for diabetes, Click Here!
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