Obesity is not a term to be thrown around lightly. If you are obese, you are at a significant risk for various health complications, such as heart disease. Conversely, if you are only slightly overweight, you may actually live longer than your skinnier peers. One can be overweight and obese, but it is also possible to be overweight and not obese. So let’s take a look at what obesity is, so you can determine if you are obese and, if so, what you can do about it.
Before examining your specific weight, let’s discuss obesity in general. A 2004 WebMD news article found that almost half of the states in America have let the new “obesity epidemic” run rampant, with 23 states not implementing any policies or initiatives to combat the problem. Not a single state received an “A” rating regarding its approach to obesity. But what exactly is the problem?
Simply put, in the last twenty years, obesity cases have skyrocketed; by 2004, over 30% of adults in the United States were obese. There has been much speculation about what this means for Americans’ health, but few solutions have been proposed. Perhaps the best way to address this issue is to inform people about what obesity is and how they can manage it on an individual basis.
Almost everyone has a basic understanding of how one gains weight: you eat a lot and do little. In other words, you consume more calories than you burn. Yet, many people find shedding those extra pounds to be a remarkably difficult task. This is likely due to today’s society, where people have little time to cook healthy meals or engage in physical activity. Many are tied to desk jobs, which require them to sit all day, and are lured to fast food restaurants and enticing cable programming that keep them sedentary. A good wake-up call might be just what you need to get off the couch and outside at the park!
So, are you obese? And if you are, would you be motivated to change your lifestyle?
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person can determine how healthy their weight is by calculating their body mass index (BMI). You might dislike math, but don’t fret—determining your BMI won’t take long. You will need two numbers: your weight (in pounds) and your height (in inches). First, square your height by multiplying the number by itself. For example, if you are five feet and five inches tall (65 inches), you will multiply 65 by 65, which equals 4225. Next, divide your weight by this number. So, if you weigh 130 pounds, you will divide 130 by 4225. The number you arrive at is a fraction. What do you do with it? Multiply it by 703 (the conversion factor). Finally, you will have your BMI; in this example, it yields a BMI of about 21.6.
Now that you know your BMI, what does it mean? What BMI indicates that you’re healthy, overweight, underweight, or—more importantly—obese? If your BMI is 18.5 or less, you are underweight and need to gain some pounds. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, then you are at a healthy weight. However, if your BMI falls between 25 and 29.9, you should monitor your weight, as you are considered overweight. Still, you’re not obese and shouldn’t panic. If your BMI exceeds 30, you are classified as obese.
Your body mass index is not an all-revealing number, however. It’s recommended that you talk to your physician about your weight concerns. Calculating your BMI can point you in the right direction and may encourage you to make that doctor’s appointment. A major reason why BMI is not entirely reliable is that it doesn’t account for muscle weight. Surprisingly, muscle is actually heavier than fat, so a person with a lot of muscle and in great shape may have a misleading BMI.
If you are curious about your child or teenager’s weight, do not approach it in the same way as discussed above. You will still use the basic BMI formula, but don’t jump to conclusions immediately after making the calculation. Children and teenagers change so much on a daily basis that a healthy BMI for a 16-year-old girl may not be healthy for an eight-year-old boy. The adult BMI doesn’t consider age or sex, while the BMI-for-age does. Once you’ve calculated your child’s BMI, you must investigate what percentile your child falls into. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has charts for reference. Essentially, the BMI should place your child in the 5th to 85th percentile. If it’s below the 5th, your child may be underweight. If it exceeds the 85th, your child may be at risk of being overweight, along with all the associated health problems. If your child’s BMI puts them in the 95th percentile, you should take notice. Children and teens are not categorized as obese, but you can prevent obesity later in life by helping them eat right and exercise today.
If you’ve just discovered that you are obese, don’t worry. You are not alone, and there are plenty of small steps you can take that can drastically improve your life and ultimately enhance your physical and mental well-being.
First, talk to your doctor and set a goal for a healthy weight. There may be medications your doctor prescribes to help you lose weight, but don’t expect them to magically transform you into a swimsuit model. Before agreeing to any prescription, research your options. Almost all diet pills and anti-obesity drugs come with alarming side effects, and some can even be deadly.
Beyond a doctor’s visit, there are changes you can start making in your life right now. Don’t get too enthusiastic and overexert yourself at the gym. Instead, begin incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. Start walking the dog or turn your household chores into a workout session! Additionally, begin recording what you eat and how many calories you consume. Once you have this information, you can identify where all that weight (literally) is coming from and then change your eating habits. For example, if you’ve been hitting the fast food drive-thru every week, consider reducing it to once a month—or better yet, say goodbye to that drive-thru altogether!
Developing new habits isn’t easy, and you may need help to get your weight under control. But once you recognize there’s a problem, you’ll find it much easier to address it.
