Posts Tagged ‘health problems’

Overcoming Obesity in Today’s Society

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Any way you look at it the statistics regarding obesity are unbelievable:

• In the U.S., 55% of adults are overweight, nearly 25% are obese.

• Each year there are approximately 280,000 deaths in the U.S. that can be attributed to obesity.

There is no longer any doubt that the most widespread and the largest threat to our health is being overweight or obese.

And while these statistics are shocking to most, there are still as many as 80 million people in the United States dealing with obesity.

According to Mayoclinic.com obesity can be defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. And it is more than just a cosmetic concern; it increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Doctors use a formula called the body mass index which is based on your height and weight to determine if you are actually obese.

If your BMI is below 18.5 you are underweight
18.5 – 24.9 is normal
25.0 – 29.9 is overweight
30.0 and higher is obese
40.0 and higher is extremely obese

The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity.

Experts are trying to get across to these millions of people who are dealing daily with obesity is that it is not going to cure itself overnight. There is not a magic pill that someone can take that will reverse the toll we have taken on our bodies over the years.

Losing weight and keeping that weight off is a commitment – a lifelong commitment – and something that won’t come easy to many people. Weight loss is not a short term goal. It is a long term lifestyle change that you must be ready to take on before you start any type of diet or fitness regimen.

However, even just getting started will get you on the right track, and quickly.
Keep in mind there are plenty of support groups out there that will help you get you where you need to be as far as diet and fitness goals and most importantly, don’t give up and just get started!

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Back to School 101: Ten Back to School Health Tips

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

It’s already that time of year again when your children will be heading back to school. While it may be a time of relief for parents, it can also be a time of stress when you are dealing with all of the illnesses and germs that children are susceptible to at school.

So, how can you help keep your child healthy throughout the school year? Follow these tips to keep your child in school and out of the doctor’s office:

1. Remind your child of the importance of washing their hands, not only before lunch and after using the rest room, but also when they get home from school.

2. Remind your child to keep their fingers and hands out of their mouth. So many germs are spread this way and infections could ensue.

3. According to an article found at AssociatedContent.com, make sure you child is up to date on all shots. Review your child’s shot records as there are several immunizations that are elective that a parent should look into getting for their child. One such elective is the Hepatitis A vaccination.

4. Make sure your child gets a physical before the school year starts. This will help to target any health problems prior to the start of the school year.

5. Give your child a daily vitamin. This will help them to build their immune systems and fight infections better.

6. Remind your child not to drink from other children’s cups or use their utensils.

7. Instruct your child not to use other people’s combs/brushes. While sharing is a great concept to be taught, children should not use their friends’ combs or brushes as this can cause the spread of head lice.

8. Do not send your child to school with a fever. Even if your child is feeling fine, a fever is an indicator that their immune system is trying to fight something off and they are at their most contagious when running a fever. This puts all children and adults around your child at risk.

9. Make sure that your child gets 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Getting the right amount of sleep is important to keeping your child healthy.

10. Make sure to feed your child a nutritious and balanced diet each day. Getting the appropriate vitamins and minerals in their diet will also aid in building their immune systems and will lead to an overall healthier child.

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Posted in Disease Prevention, General Health, your children's health | 13 Comments »