Should There Be a New Way to Determining If You Are Overweight?

What exactly is being obese or overweight? We all are perceptive intuitively that humans are becoming heavier, and there are numerous reasons. This is an issue that is plaguing most industrialized countries, and although this is all accurate, the way we measure obesity will go far in how we should treat the issue. Many of our solutions, of which an increasing number of governments are becoming drawn in by trying to legislate the matter away, are much to generalize to provide any actual benefit.

That isn't to say laws that limits or eliminates certain ingredients will not be a very good thing. Without doubt the elimination of Trans fats cannot be bad, as they are proven extremely harmful for health but offer no benefit except making food taste better and preserve longer. But technology has found methods around that, as a result eliminating the need for this damaging additive. And much of that is prompted because of legislation calling for the elimination of Tran's fats. That's to say, government becoming involved is not inevitably a bad thing provided it picks its battles.

And when too often government comes in to create sweeping transformations, they're usually based on sweeping data. That may begin with what is actually "overweight". Much of that comes from what we see on a weight scale, and the more sophisticated Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is calculated on age, weight and height, and it is possible to calculate yours by searching for an online calculator on Google.

But based on a commentary in Men's Health, when Lawrence Dallaglio, an England rugby world cup winner, was in his prime his BMI was at 31, placing him within the obese range. At the identical time, his body fat was a really low 11%. So if legislation was to target everyone with BMI greater than 30, they would be targeting the wrong guy, and there are numerous others within this grouping.

To break down overweight further, the problem lies in where it's located. The kind of fat that is associated with type 2 diabetes and heart problems is in fact visceral fat, the type that surrounds the organs. This will present itself in individuals with fat in the belly region. As a result if we were to put lower importance on BMI and more on where troublesome fat is in fact located, that should give us the best indicator for health issues.

So here's what a better measurement of health should be: forget about scales and make use of a tape measure. Calculate:
1. Chest. Measure the full circumference of the upper torso at the nipple area.
2. Waist. Measure the total circumference of the core along at the navel.
3. Hips. Measure the total circumference of the hip area passing over your hip bone.

Take those numbers and divide the waist number by the hip number. After that divide the waist number by the chest number. Your score is going to fall into one of three ranges:

Underweight 0.8-0.9
Good weight 0.9-1
Overweight 1+

The line of reasoning is weight by itself might well be a major indicator for an unhealthy condition, but not automatically. If we're thinking about our health, our major concern ought to be where our extra fat is located. This different way of measuring our weight is a far better indicator.

As they say, you can't find a solution to a problem if you can't identify the problem. Where our excess fat is located is vital. Read more about BMI in our article on calculating caloric intake. Also, metabolism plays a large part of reducing belly fat. Click here to find out more. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in Chicago.

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Why Weight Loss Surgery Is the Right Answer for Excessively Overweight Individuals

Obesity is a common problem for both children and adults throughout the world. If weight is left unmanaged, the individual can suffer from a number of health complications including diabetes and hypertension. This is the main reason why people should strive to eat right and to maintain a healthy body weight.

However, for individuals who are more than a hundred pounds overweight, diet and exercise alone may not be an effective weight loss plan. In fact, studies have shown that such individuals are likely to give up on the procedure because they do not see any results. Those who struggle through the extreme lifestyle change are more likely to regain most of that weight within five years. Such individuals will therefore need a helping hand in the form of a weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgeries are some of the most misunderstood types of surgery. There are people who assume that the surgery will simply get rid of all the fat and weight so that they will leave the surgeon's table looking slimmer. This is far from the truth as this surgery never gets rid of any weight. It is more of a means that helps one to lose weight, as opposed to an end in itself.

There are three main types of surgeries, all of which are supposed to help the individual to easily adapt to their new diet and exercise lifestyle. Individuals who are overweight usually consume very large portions of food. Therefore, their stomach has stretched and become bigger in order to accommodate the larger portions. Also, their entire digestive system has adapted to the larger portions and it is therefore able to absorb more calories. The surgeries help to reverse these changes so that individuals can eat and get satisfied by smaller portions.

The first type of surgery is the restrictive weight loss surgery which aims at reducing the size of the stomach pouch. There are different types of restrictive surgeries, all of which help to make the stomach smaller. After such a surgery, the individual can be able to successfully go on diet. They will enjoy smaller meals and still be able to feel full. However, if they start increasing their meal portions, their stomach will expand and the procedure will not be successful.

Malabsorptive surgeries on the other hand aim at digestive process so that fewer calories are absorbed. A patient who undergoes this procedure will not have to reduce their meal portions. They will be able to eat more, but most of the food will be excreted as stool since very little calories are absorbed. If they exercise after the procedure, they will be able to lose excess weight faster.

There is also a combined procedure that alters both the size of the stomach and the digestive process. This has become more common as it is considered more effective. Individuals who are considering any of these procedures should ensure that they talk with their doctor fast. They should be ready for a radical lifestyle change that will help them to keep the weight off for ten or more years. This will make it easier for them to live healthier lives as well as to enjoy activities that were impossible for them when they were overweight such as bending.

I am an avid researcher who enjoys writing on a number of topics including health, fitness, sports, beauty, gaming, entertainment, travel and leisure among others.

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If You're a Little Overweight You May Not Be in Such Bad Shape

In a recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association recently, being slightly overweight actually reduces the risk of dying early. The study does show what we have all assumed: that obesity does indeed increase the risk of early death. This does go against the thinking commonly held that risk of death is directly proportional to the amount a person is overweight.

The study was conducted on data from 97 different studies of almost three million people in the US, China, Europe, Australia, Japan, India, Mexico and Brazil. The Body Mass Index, or BMI, which is a measurement of body fat accounting for height and weight, was a major factor that the researchers evaluated. The study specifically found that obese people had an 18% higher risk than people of normal weight, but people who were considered overweight but not obese had a 6% lower risk of death than the normal weight base.

A few of the reasons given for this are:

• Heavier people may feel they are more at risk, so they are more apt to get regular checkups and address health issues promptly.
• Some fat may actually be cardio-protective for many people.
• Some people who are heavier may have greater resiliency and therefore are better able to deal with stress to the system when it occurs.

It is important to note that this study did not find a cause-and-effect relationship between a person's weight and premature death risk. Body weight alone is not a predictor of death risk. Beyond body mass index are such factors as cholesterol, smoking, overall fitness, family history and mental health that also play immense rolls in premature death. We should think of our body mass index as merely a parameter, as the issues surrounding premature death are quite complex.

Furthermore, the study only looks at death, and not chronic medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cardiac risk factors, cancer risk, fatty liver and gall bladder disease. Any one of these by themselves may not be killers, at least not in the short-term, but over time could, and probably will cause health complications. This study only accounts for mortality caused directly by being overweight.

So what does this study all mean? First, and most obvious, is that being obese is unquestionably a dangerous health situation. It must be avoided at all costs. Next, perhaps we must look at what overweight really is. If being overweight by our present standards of body mass index does not present a health risk, maybe we should take another look at what we define as normal.

Lastly, as with any study this generalizes about people, and although there are many similarities, everybody is a little different. For one person to carry some excess weight there may never be any health issues at all. But for others, even a little excess weight may trigger problems. Plus of course as we move into different stages of our lives, what was once not an issue suddenly rears its ugly head. We think the best advice is to know your own body, keep informed, and always be proactive to providing the best for your long-term health.

Weight and proper diet is something we talk a lot about on our website http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/. Even though being a little on the heavy side may not be as critical to our health as we sometimes hear, it is very important to watch our weight. Check out an interesting article on how water can help your diet. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast now living in Chicago.

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Being Overweight Increases Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is well know that being overweight or obese increases your risk of several health conditions, from heart disease and diabetes to chronic back pain. A new study demonstrates that a BMI over 25 puts you at an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation that destroys the lining of joints and, eventually, causing bone erosion. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body misidentifies a threat and creates unnecessary, harmful inflammation around joints. It can affect joints in the hands, feet, wrists, knees, ankles, spine, elbows, hips and shoulders. Joints tend to be swollen and stiff, particularly in the morning. Joints may feel warm due to inflammation. You may experience a fever as well, since this is a form of whole-body inflammation that occurs when the body detects a threat.

This condition affects far more women than men. As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, joints may be deformed by erosion and may move out of alignment. Inflammation targets synovial lining in the joint, which thickens and causes ligaments supporting the joint to become overstretched and weak. Cartilage and bone around the joint deteriorates. The loss of structural integrity can lead to misalignment and increased pain upon movement.

Two long-term studies, one spanning from 1976-2008 and the other from 1989-2009, tracked over 100,000 adult women each to determine whether being overweight or obese factored into lifetime risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Risk was determined by "hazard ratio;" participants with a healthy weight were considered to have a hazard ratio of 1.00, and this served as a reference to base the risks of those with excess weight on. The longer study found that overweight individuals had a hazard ratio of 1.19 (19% higher), and obese people had a ratio of 1.18 (18% higher). The shorter study found overweight participants to have a ratio of 1.78 (78% higher) and obese participants to have a ratio of 1.73 (73% higher). A summary of the studies can be viewed at http://www.rheumatology.org/apps/MyAnnualMeeting/ExploreMeeting/AbstractDetail?abstractId=30503

Though the numbers differed, both studies lent supporting evidence to the theory that excess weight increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Learning the risk factors for this condition is important, considering there is no cure for it. Treatment surrounds management of pain and stiffness as well as attempts to slow the disease's progression.

Losing weight healthily can be done in a number of ways. Healthy eating and physical activity generally combine to help you lose fat and gain lean muscle. Talk with a dietician or your doctor about different weight loss programs, or begin a program like Weight Watchers on your own. Weight Watchers has both free and low-fee program options.

Add rheumatoid arthritis to the extensive list of health conditions associated with excess weight. Help yourself avoid chronic pain conditions by maintaining a healthy weight.

Safe choices for pain management solutions exist. Educate yourself in alternative solutions for back pain management. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission regarding back pain management.

Read More

Being Overweight Increases Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is well know that being overweight or obese increases your risk of several health conditions, from heart disease and diabetes to chronic back pain. A new study demonstrates that a BMI over 25 puts you at an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation that destroys the lining of joints and, eventually, causing bone erosion. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body misidentifies a threat and creates unnecessary, harmful inflammation around joints. It can affect joints in the hands, feet, wrists, knees, ankles, spine, elbows, hips and shoulders. Joints tend to be swollen and stiff, particularly in the morning. Joints may feel warm due to inflammation. You may experience a fever as well, since this is a form of whole-body inflammation that occurs when the body detects a threat.

This condition affects far more women than men. As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, joints may be deformed by erosion and may move out of alignment. Inflammation targets synovial lining in the joint, which thickens and causes ligaments supporting the joint to become overstretched and weak. Cartilage and bone around the joint deteriorates. The loss of structural integrity can lead to misalignment and increased pain upon movement.

Two long-term studies, one spanning from 1976-2008 and the other from 1989-2009, tracked over 100,000 adult women each to determine whether being overweight or obese factored into lifetime risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Risk was determined by "hazard ratio;" participants with a healthy weight were considered to have a hazard ratio of 1.00, and this served as a reference to base the risks of those with excess weight on. The longer study found that overweight individuals had a hazard ratio of 1.19 (19% higher), and obese people had a ratio of 1.18 (18% higher). The shorter study found overweight participants to have a ratio of 1.78 (78% higher) and obese participants to have a ratio of 1.73 (73% higher). A summary of the studies can be viewed at http://www.rheumatology.org/apps/MyAnnualMeeting/ExploreMeeting/AbstractDetail?abstractId=30503

Though the numbers differed, both studies lent supporting evidence to the theory that excess weight increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Learning the risk factors for this condition is important, considering there is no cure for it. Treatment surrounds management of pain and stiffness as well as attempts to slow the disease's progression.

Losing weight healthily can be done in a number of ways. Healthy eating and physical activity generally combine to help you lose fat and gain lean muscle. Talk with a dietician or your doctor about different weight loss programs, or begin a program like Weight Watchers on your own. Weight Watchers has both free and low-fee program options.

Add rheumatoid arthritis to the extensive list of health conditions associated with excess weight. Help yourself avoid chronic pain conditions by maintaining a healthy weight.

Safe choices for pain management solutions exist. Educate yourself in alternative solutions for back pain management. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission regarding back pain management.

Read More