June 22, 2017

Obesity in America

Eating Ourselves Sick

We do hate to mention it, but statistics say that more than 2/3 of American adults are overweight, with more than 35% being obese. To be clear about it, being overweight refers to an excess of body weight (muscles, organs, bones, fat, and fluid). Obesity refers to an excess of body fat measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI of 30+ is considered obese.

Obesity and being overweight are the consequences of an energy imbalance. That means two out of three of us take in more calories each day than we actively convert to energy. The result is stored by the body as fat. Many factors contribute to this condition including heredity, eating habits, exercise levels, and emotions. As we all know, excess weight can be lethal, contributing to the development of diabetes, heart problems, liver disease, stroke, and cancer.

It doesn’t take much thinking to understand that many of us need to take immediate action on weight control. You say you’ve tried that and the pounds came right back? This time, get help from your primary care provider who can refer you to our nutritionist, work with our endocrinologists, or even refer you for a bariatric surgery consultation. Take steps now to take control. www.hackensackumgpv.org/providers/

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