During the radio show on Sunday, March 3rd @ Touch 106.1, Sister Andrena and I talked about obesity. One thing we discussed prior to the show was the fact that perceptions of health and beauty are so skewed in this country by what we see on TV or in the movies. We actually have no idea what a health weight IS anymore. Think about your favorite movie star or celebrity. Do you ever wonder how much “work” they’ve had done? How much they spend on a personal trainer? Number of hours a day they work out? Who is cooking for them? Some celebrities are even underweight.
So just what is obesity and why is it important to discuss? On Sunday, we gave the US National Library of Medicine definition of obesity: having too much body fat. Now there are some folk who are truly “big boned” but most of us, if we are honest, know exactly what it means to have too much fat on our bodies. Remember the Special K commercial “Can you pinch an inch”?? Well, some of us can pinch several inches and that just isn’t good!
Obesity is linked with multiple medical problems, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleeping problems, and even cancer. Having too much body fat makes it difficult for doctors to provide the best medical care. Every procedure, even what is typically a simple surgery, carries excess risk when patients are obese.
Thirty percent (30%) of the US population is considered clinically obese. If we look at obesity by race/ethnicity (see the CDC report), the epidemic affects blacks and Hispanics the most. And interestingly, rates of obesity varies by state.
So just what is obesity and why is it important to discuss? On Sunday, we gave the US National Library of Medicine definition of obesity: having too much body fat. Now there are some folk who are truly “big boned” but most of us, if we are honest, know exactly what it means to have too much fat on our bodies. Remember the Special K commercial “Can you pinch an inch”?? Well, some of us can pinch several inches and that just isn’t good!
Obesity is linked with multiple medical problems, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleeping problems, and even cancer. Having too much body fat makes it difficult for doctors to provide the best medical care. Every procedure, even what is typically a simple surgery, carries excess risk when patients are obese.
Thirty percent (30%) of the US population is considered clinically obese. If we look at obesity by race/ethnicity (see the CDC report), the epidemic affects blacks and Hispanics the most. And interestingly, rates of obesity varies by state.
So how do we measure obesity?? Well, one way is to figure out what your body mass index (BMI) is. BMI is calculated by taking your weight in pounds, multiplying it by 703, and then dividing it by your height in inches squared. Huh?? For those of us who have internet access, much easier to just use a BMI calculator online, like this animated calculator found at the Black Health Zone. If your BMI is between 25.5 and 29.9, it suggests you are overweight; a score over 30 suggests obesity.
Some people use the excuse that BMI does not apply to all races/ethnicities. There are indeed studies that shown that BMI can overestimate fat in blacks [see article]. And the BMI in other countries such as Japan and Singapore is adjusted to fit the population. However, the crude measurement of BMI is at LEAST a starting point by which we can make a personal assessment, if indeed the fat jiggling on various body parts is not enough to get us to admit that we may need to drop a few pounds.
There are several things that contribute to being overweight and obese, but the major contributory to weight gain is consuming (eating or drinking) more calories than you are using.
Some people use the excuse that BMI does not apply to all races/ethnicities. There are indeed studies that shown that BMI can overestimate fat in blacks [see article]. And the BMI in other countries such as Japan and Singapore is adjusted to fit the population. However, the crude measurement of BMI is at LEAST a starting point by which we can make a personal assessment, if indeed the fat jiggling on various body parts is not enough to get us to admit that we may need to drop a few pounds.
There are several things that contribute to being overweight and obese, but the major contributory to weight gain is consuming (eating or drinking) more calories than you are using.
Me, with statue of Willie Nelson. Downtown Austin, Tx. Nov 2012.
Over the next month, we will explore this topic in more depth and discuss creative ways to reduce the health risks associated with being overweight and obese. Losing just 10% of your current body weight (if you are obese) will make a significant impact on our health and well-being. Yes, I said “OUR” because, my name is Dr. Karen Winkfield, and I am obese.
Will you explore this topic with me? Let’s find creative solutions together. And stay tuned for some fabulous low-fat, low-cost, and great tasting recipes from Chef Jeff.
Will you explore this topic with me? Let’s find creative solutions together. And stay tuned for some fabulous low-fat, low-cost, and great tasting recipes from Chef Jeff.
~ One drop of knowledge can ripple through an entire community
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