Guest guest Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Healthbeat:Weight Plateaus January 6, 2006 Jen Christensen Obesity in the U.S. According to the American Obesity Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight (have a body mass index, or BMI, of greater than 25). Of those who are overweight, more than 30 percent are obese (have a BMI greater than 30) and nearly five percent are severely obese (have a BMI greater than 40). Obesity is a growing problem in the U.S. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of those who are overweight has increased by 18 percent. Obesity rates have doubled since 1976. Being overweight can lead to some serious health problems. Excess weight is linked to an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease and certain types of cancer. Obesity is believed to cause about 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S. each year. Losing Weight – and Keeping it Off The Calorie Control Council estimates 33 percent of American adults are dieting to lose weight. Weight loss isn't always easy. There are many fad diets that promote quick weight loss. However, there is no magic bullet. Health experts say the best way to lose weight is to do it slowly by eating a healthy diet, taking in fewer calories and getting regular exercise. Even the best attempts to lose weight can reach an impasse. Sometimes after successfully losing weight, no more weight comes off. This is known as a weight plateau. Gotlin, D.O., Sports Medicine Specialist at Beth Israel Medical Center says weight plateaus occur because the body reaches a balance of caloric intake and energy expenditure. Everyone has a minimum number of calories that are needed to provide the body with enough energy to survive. This is known as the basic metabolism rate. The number of calories we need varies from person to person. Even the same person can have different caloric needs, depending upon current state of health. Eating more calories than the body needs or spends in exercise or activity leads to weight gain. A weight plateau occurs when the number of calories a person consumes equals that needed to keep the body functioning and provide fuel for exercise. A healthcare provider can help a patient determine his/her basic metabolism rate and find the minimum number of calories needed to keep the body alive. The number can be used to figure out how many extra calories need to be eliminated to continue losing weight. Gotlin says many patients are tempted to cut back on calories to lose the extra weight. However, that should only be done cautiously. Most people who are dieting are already eating close to the minimum number of calories they need to survive. So as long as the diet is healthy, the best option is to increase activity levels. Exercise programs should be increased gradually to prevent burnout and injury. Gotlin also recommends aerobic exercises to burn fat. AUDIENCE INQUIRY For information on obesity and weight loss: American Council on Exercise, http://www.acefitness.org American Obesity Association, http://www.obesity.org Calorie Control Council, http://www.caloriecontrol.org Weight-Control Information Network, http://win.niddk.nih.gov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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