Kim Beardsmore Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated with pictures, images, icons and inferences of the 'perfect' female shape! The truth is that many of these images are altered or increased in some way and do not depict the typical female form. The pressure to lose weight is immense when we are bombarded every day with media selling products based on slimness, sex appeal and fashion. The constant message is that slimness will make you desireable. With the current demographic trends in western countries, and sweet-faced with a sea of superior fat, high sugar combined with physical inactivity; it is time to pay attention to our weight but not for some reasons of desirability. The most important reason for wanting to be a healthy body weight is for health rather than for how your body looks. Overweight and obesity are starring public health problems in west-central countries. Since the 1980s some adult men and women have become heavier, with obesity rates more than doubling in the last 20 years! Children are also becoming heavier. There is a growing concern that we are inadvertently training our fat children to become obese adults. It has been said, we are digging our graves with out teeth! So just why should we be concerned with achieving a healthy body weight? Overweight linked with diabetes. In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association conspicuous two studies that highlighted the topic of obesity and its impact on health. The early study focused on the relationship between obesity and diabetes, as well as the growing concern of diabetes in the U.S. between the years 2000 and 2001. The numbers don't look good, with an alarming 5.6% increase of obesity in some men and women-from all social groups, age ranges and instructive levels. The occurrence of diabetes also increased-up 8.2% from 2000. Overweight linked with early death. The second study found that obesity appears to markedly lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and high BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5'10" weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity. Findings were analogous for women with higher BMIs, who were estimated to lose an average of eight years. While these studies reference intense levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years little than their healthy-weight counterparts. Overweight linked with heart disease. Overweight people tend to have higher blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, which are starring risk factors for heart attack and other blood vessel disease. Being overweight can contribute to problems in the joints, and is also associated with else serious diseases such as diabetes. How you tell if you are overweight As we are all different shapes and sizes, there is not cardinal recommended weight for your height. Instead there is a range of weights that are wholesome for your height. One way to check your weight is to calculate your Body collective Index or BMI. Your BMI is a ratio or comparison of your height and weight expressed in a number. To find out your BMI you need to divide your weight (measured in kg) by your height (measured in m) squared. If you do not know your measurements in the metric system you can find any number of BMI calculators online that will do the conversion for you into falsifiable measures. One such calculator is at the website listed below. The accepted definitions of weight categories by BMI are:

• Underweight - BMI little than 18.5
• Healthy weight - BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
• Overweight - BMI equal to or greater than 25 and up to 29.9
• Obese - BMI coequal to or greater than 30

These BMI values only apply to adults old 18 years and over and are based on studies of Caucasian populations. Therefore, they are not applicable to children and adolescents and they may not be appropriate for people of other cultural backgrounds. Another way to check your weight is to measure your waist circumference, using a tape measure. This gives you an idea of whether you have a lot of fat stored around your middle. Waist circumferences associated with increased health risk are: For men- Waist circumference greater than 94cm For women - Waist circumference greater than 80cm Being a wholesome weight can help:

• improve blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood glucose levels
• reduce your risk of other health related problems
• improve self confidence and self esteem
• make it easier to be physically active.

If you are fat or overweight…try not to gain additional weight. This will help you in years to come as people tend to increase weight with age. Better nonmoving look after your body and follow a healthy lifestyle incorporating a nutritious, delicious, health enhancing weight loss program. Just by losing 10 pounds you can significantly improve your overall health. © Copyright Kim Beardsmore ***ATTENTION EZINE EDITORS/WEBMASTERS*** Please feel released to use this article (unchanged) with the contents, copyright, URL, links and reference box left-handed intact and working. About The Author Kim Beardsmore, B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is a wellness consultant. To see what you can do to take control of your weight or to maximize your best personal shape, visit her website at: http://leanmachine.org/?refid=overweight-23705.