Is
there a relationship between heart disease and obesity?
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[JUNE
25, 2004]
According to statistics and
research performed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, heart
disease and obesity are connected. |
What
is obesity and overweight?
Obesity is defined simply as too much
body fat. Your body is made up of water, fat, protein,
carbohydrates, and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too
much fat -- especially in your waist area -- you're at higher risk
for health problems, including high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Is
obesity a major risk factor for coronary heart disease?
Yes. Obesity places a person at higher
risk for coronary heart disease because having excess body fat --
 What
causes obesity?
Obesity is mainly caused by taking in
more calories than are burned in physical activity and daily life
movement. When people eat too many calories or too much saturated
fat and cholesterol, their blood cholesterol levels often rise. That
raises their risk of heart disease.
How is
body fat measured?
Waist circumference measurement and
body mass index are the recommended ways to estimate body fat. A
high-risk waistline is more than 35 inches for women and more than
40 inches for men.
The body mass index formula assesses
body weight relative to height. It's a useful, indirect measure of
body composition because in most people it correlates with body fat.
The body mass index is calculated by taking your weight in pounds
divided by your height in inches squared and multiplying by 703.
In studies by the National Center for
Health Statistics --
- BMI values less than 18.5 are
considered underweight.
- BMI values between 18.5 and 24.9
are healthy.
- Overweight is defined as a body
mass index of 25.0 to 29.9. This is generally about 10 percent
over an ideal body weight.
- Being obese is defined as a BMI
of 30.0 or greater.
- Extreme obesity is defined at a
BMI of 40 or greater.
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How can
obesity be reduced or prevented?
Here are some suggestions:
- Build physical activity into the
family's regular routines and playtime. Ensure that adults get at
least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the
week. Children should aim for at least 60 minutes.
- Support and encourage daily,
quality physical education in all school grades. Such education
can develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors and
confidence needed to be physically active for life.
- Reduce time spent watching
television and other sedentary behaviors, such as computers or
video games.
- Create more opportunities for
physical activity at work. Encourage employers to make facilities
and opportunities available for physical activity for all
employees.
- Make community facilities
available and accessible for physical activity for all people,
including the elderly.
- Promote healthier food choices.
Recommendations are to eat five to nine servings of fruits and
vegetables each day.
- Encourage individuals to consume
reasonable portion sizes of food selections. Avoid supersizing and
value-added meal plans at fast-food restaurants.
- Support efforts to encourage
health insurers to cover prevention and treatment of overweight
and obesity.
How can
schools help to reduce and prevent obesity?
Schools should provide healthful foods
and beverages on school campuses and at school events. This is best
accomplished by:
Sources
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