Lose Weight if you want a healthier heart
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
number of obese Americans continues to rise. In fact, 30 percent
of adults over age 20- more than 60 million people-are obese,
which means they are 30 pounds overweight and have a Body fat
percentage that is considered obese.
Obesity Is On The Rise!
One of the goals of the National Institutes of Health is to reduce
obesity among adults by more than half by the year 2025. However,
current data suggests that the situation is getting worse. Due to
rising rates of childhood obesity, life expectancy for the average
American could decrease by two to five years over the next few
decades unless major efforts are made to slow down the rising
rates of obesity.
What's more, obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and other
serious health complications:
- Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure
and high cholesterol. Having these disorders at the same time is
a condition called metabolic syndrome, which can lead to an
increased risk for heart disease and kidney disease.
- High blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease, is twice as
common in obese adults than in those who are at a healthy weight.
- Obesity can also lead to arthritis, which is caused by stress on
your joints.
A Likely Trigger For Heart Disease
Obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are a common
grouping of risk factors for people with heart disease. Managing
all these risk factors will help reduce the risk of heart attack
and stroke.
What You Can Do Today
Overweight and obesity together represent the number-two preventable
cause of death in the U.S. after smoking. There are many things you
can do to get your weight under control and to help manage your risk
for heart disease:
- Develop a diet and exercise plan that you feel is realistic and
that you can maintain.
- Talk to your doctor about medicines that may help control your
risk factors for heart disease. If you are prescribed medicines,
take them exactly as directed and for as long as your doctor
recommends.
- Resolve to make this year a healthier one-set a weight-loss goal
and stick with it.
