Waistlines are expanding throughout the United States at an alarming rate and the percentage of Americans considered obese in 2011 has reached 36%, projected to reach 42% by the year 2030 according to the Trust for America Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. An astounding 67% of Americans are considered overweight today.
Obesity has been historically defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight. More recent guidelines for obesity use a measurement called BMI (body mass index), which is an individual’s weight multiplied by 703 and then divided by twice the height in inches. A BMI of 25.9 to 29 is considered overweight; BMI over 30 is considered obese.
Obesity has been associated with a variety of common health problems including arthritis, adult-onset asthma, high blood pressure, gum disease, sleep apnea, among others. Chronic obesity has been associated with some of the leading causes of death in America including heart disease, strokes and various forms of cancer.
The causes of obesity are mostly related to diet and exercise. Sedentary life-styles or lack of regular exercise, for example, can be a significant contributor to obesity. The American diet which features larger portions and generous amounts of meats, dairy and processed foods in the diet is also thought to be a major contributor to expanding waistlines in America.
If you are concerned about your waistline or curious if you are considered overweight or obese, click on the link here (http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/) to get an immediate reading of your current Body Mass Index (BMI). This site has resources and suggestions which you can access to find more information about obesity. It’s important to consult your physician before making significant changes to your diet or exercise regimen.
O’Meagher Farms promotes healthier eating by offering a variety of all-natural foods (which are all plant-based) on its website. Please visit us at http://omeagherfarms.com
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