Am I Obese?
Am I Obese?
By Dr. Lori Warren
I have been truly amazed by how many women who are considered overweight or obese based on their BMI. In my gynecology practice it is part of every patients record to have a BMI measurement based on height and weight. It is alarming how many women fall into the overweight or obese range in 2019. The BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is one way to determine if a person is overweight, underweight or obese.
· normal weight: BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
· overweight: BMI of 25 to 29.9
· obesity: BMI of 30 or higher
Waist size can be another useful measurement to assess if a person is obese and may be at increased risk of health related diseases. Midline obesity may be the best indicator for the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancers.
The rule of thumb is that a woman’s midline should be less than 35 inches and a man’s less than 40.
I may not be the only one asking what has happened to American woman over the last 20 years? And why are we accepting our expanding waistlines as the new normal? What are the health implications?
It is interesting to note that the most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes and it is on the rise. 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. It is one of the leading causes of death in the US. The Diabetes Prevention Program was a large clinical study sponsored by the NIH looking at ways to prevent diabetes in adults who were overweight. It was encouraging that the findings showed that losing only 5-7 percent of body weight and doing brisk walking for 150 minutes a week could prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Sadly, about half of my patients do not exercise at all. I encourage 30 minutes of walking each day to benefit from a decrease in many disorders including; insomnia, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sexual disorder, depression, anxiety, hypertension, dementia, heart disease, and stroke. Just to name a few.
Although the risks of being mildly overweight are unclear, studies have shown that reducing weight does translate to a decrease risk of certain diseases. Postmenopausal women who are overweight have a higher risk of breast and uterine cancer. Younger women who are overweight may experience infertility and higher obstetrical risks. I think it is important to strive for optimal weight and health. Daily exercise is so important to be at your best and reduce the risk of many disorders.
Spa V promotes a real food diet, mostly plant-based, and plenty of sleep and exercise daily. More to come on some dietary ideas and great books to read about nutrition and controlling insulin levels.
Hint: STOP EATING Sugar and processed foods as soon as possible! :)) These foods are killing us!