Hey there! You know how important your heart is, right? Well, I just want you to think for a second, "Am I taking care of my Heart?" Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. Obesity contributes to Heart disease. See where I'm going here? Okay, don't worry. I just wanted me and you to both be on the same page of worry about this epidemic! Did you know that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States? If you're not sure what an epidemic is, it's when a disease spreads to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period of time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese Americans continues to rise. According to research, 30 percent of adults over the age of 20-more than 60 million people-are obese, which means they are 30 pounds overweight and have a BMI, or body mass index (a mea-sure of body fat), of more than 30.
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 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
Being classified as overweight and obese 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. Some people believe that because Obesity is now defined as a disease that they are powerless against it. Somehow obesity as a disease invalidates the importance of discipline, proper nutrition, and exercise and enables individuals with obesity to escape responsibility. I would venture to say that you should absolutely see a professional or two that can help you develop a diet and exercise plan that you feel is realistic and that you can maintain.
You can always talk to a Cardiologist about medicines and techniques that may help control your risk factors for heart disease. If you are prescribed medicines, try to find the best way for you to incorporate new Heart Healthy habits into your lifestyle.
Resolve to make this year a healthier one-set a weight-loss goal and stick with it.
References
https://obesitymedicine.org/why-is-obesity-a-disease/ , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11673757/ , https://www.worldobesity.org/what-we-do/our-policy-priorities/obesity-as-a-disease
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