One of the most important ways to improve your chances for
long-term health is to keep your weight in a “healthy” range.
It is now well known that excess weight is correlated with a
number of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, some
types of cancer, sleep apnea, adult-onset asthma, diabetes, and
many other medical problems.
When discussing weight, three key questions should be posed.
How much do you weigh in relation to your height? What is your
waist size? And, how much weight have you gained since your
early 20s? Your answers to these questions may strongly
influence your risk for a number of health concerns.
So, what is a healthy weight? It is not always easy to
determine. For example, someone who is tall can carry more
weight than someone who is in the shorter side. One measure
that takes into account varying body heights is the body mass
index (BMI). Calculating your BMI is fairly easy. Begin by
dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches. Divide
that number by your height in inches. Then, multiply that number
by 703. Unless you are an extremely muscular body bulder, if
your BMI is between 25 and 30 you are considered overweight. If
your BMI is over 30, you are considered obese. Further, many
people who have a BMI between 23 and 25 are not at their
healthiest weight.
There is a good chance that you now weight more than you did in
your 20s. However, you should realize that gaining weight as we
age is not inevitable. It is also not without risk. If you have
gained more than five pounds since your 20s, you have a greater
risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood
pressure, type 2 diabetes, and gallstones. If you have gained
more significant amounts of weight, you have an even higher
risk for these diseases. These facts point to one of the major
problems of the BMI. If you were relatively thin when you were
younger, you may be able to gain a good deal of weight and
still have a BMI that is considered relatively healthy.
There are a number of possible reasons for your weight gain.
These include eating larger amounts of higher caloric food and
living a relatively inactive lifestyle. But your genes may play
a role. And, don’t discount cultural factors, such as feeling
compelled to eat all the food that has been placed on your
plate.
Consider where you store your excess fat. If it tends to
gravitate to your waist and chest, you may be labeled an
“apple.” Or, if it is clustered around the hips and thighs, you
are a “pear.” Fat that accumulates around the waist and chest
increases the risk of high cholesterol, high blood sugar and
heart disease. However, it is probably most useful to test your
waist measurement. If your waist has been expanding, it is time
to evaluate your diet and level of exercise.
If you have determined that you need to lose weight, I would
advise a three-pronged strategy. Start by prioritizing
exercise. There is no real way around it; if you want to lose
weight and maintain the weight loss, you need to participate in
regular exercise. Exercise burns calories that might be
converted into fat, and it builds muscle. An inactive 50-year
old person who has gained 10 pounds has often lost five pounds
of muscle and gained 15 pounds of fat. With this increase in
weight will come a deceleration in the resting metabolism; the
body needs less energy for basic needs and increasing amounts
of food become fat stores. Thus, as more muscle is converted to
fat, it is easier to gain weight.
I highly recommend a daily walk of at least 30 minutes. If you
have the time and inclination, walk even more. To keep yourself
motivated, walk with a friend or listen to books on tape. If you
have a treadmill, watch a video or DVD. In addition to regular
walking, include more activity in your everyday life. Park at
the far end of the lot. Take the stairs instead of the
elevator. Also, consider trying other forms of exercise such as
tennis and swimming.
While beginning your exercise program, you will need to take a
closer look at your diet. I generally recommend a
Mediterranean-type of diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains and smaller amounts of meat, poultry and fish.
Most fat should be obtained from olive oil or other vegetable
oils as well as small amount of nuts.
And, you need to practice what I have termed “defensive
eating.” It is best to stop eating before you are stuffed. Of
course, you don’t want to walk around with constant hunger
pains. But, you should stop eating before feeling overly full.
And, do not eat everything that is put before you. So, if your
waiter serves a basket piled high with various breads, do not
feel that you must eat every last morsel. Replace the butter
with olive oil. Since they are likely to have far more calories
than you think, always be careful of desserts. Close your meal
with a bowl of fresh fruit.
Defensive eating entails eating more slowly and gaining greater
awareness of what you are eating. Try keeping a journal that
tracks your food consumption. It may be quite revealing. Have a
snack or appetizer before a meal. It will quell your hunger.
And, to reduce temptation, eliminate foods you should not be
eating from your home.
As I wrote in my book, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, “Weight
control isn’t impossible, not does it need to mean deprivation
or a boring, repetitious diet. With conscious effort and
creativity, most people can successfully control their weight
for the long term with an enjoyable but reasonable diet and
daily exercise. A longer, healthier life is definitely worth
the effort.”
Walter C. Willett, M.D./DrPH
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health
Author, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School
Guide to Healthy Eating
Copyright © 2005, by Weight Loss Buddy Press
About The Author: Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of
http://www.WeightLossBuddy.com. a website committed to 24/7
support, expert advice and helping people find a buddy(s) who
will not only help them lose weight but who also help them to
change to a healthier lifestyle. And it’s all Free.
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