BLG Health - Fit vs.Fat

Fit vs. Fat

Over the years, some experts have touted fitness over fatness as a measure of health. But does that mean it's OK to be overweight if you hit the gym on a regular basis?

It's been a common line of thinking that the high blood pressure and cholesterol levels that are often seen in overweight individuals are to blame for the increased disease risk, rather than the fat itself. And because regular exercise can help to keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check, it was believed that overweight individuals might not face an increased risk so long as they got enough exercise.

While being overweight and fit is better for your health than being an overweight couch potato, research shows the excess weight itself is still a major risk factor for developing heart disease and diabetes.

But if you are of normal weight or even on the thin side, that doesn't mean you are off the hook either.

Where you carry your weight plays an important role in how healthy you are. Carrying excess fat around your middle - even if your weight isn't otherwise a problem - increases your risk of developing health problems more than weight carried anywhere else on the body.

But here's where working out comes into play: Research has shown exercise works better than diet alone when it comes to targeting deep belly fat.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

                                                                                  As found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/


Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Who Are You Calling Fat

Who Are You Calling Fat?

Sure, you know the risks of being overweight or obese, but that doesn't mean you have a problem, right? Or maybe you are fully aware that you could stand to lose some weight but are putting off doing anything about it until the summer, your sister's wedding, vacation time, or some other occasion down the road.

How can you tell if you need to lose weight and, if so, is now the right time?

For starters, you need to be honest with yourself about whether your weight is a problem. Don't just go by how snug your clothing feels or when the last time was that you had to go up a size in jeans. Even using those as a gauge, it can still be easy to bury your head in the sand. For example, a survey of New Yorkers found that only 39% of obese adults described themselves as such.

There are some concrete measures to tell whether your weight is putting you at risk for health problems.

• BMI (body mass index): Your BMI is calculated based on your weight and height, and determines whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or are overweight or obese. Don't know your BMI? Ask your doctor or use our BMI calculator.
• Waist circumference: Don't think your BMI is an accurate reflection of how healthy your weight is? For a few people, it isn't. If you have a high proportion of muscle, your BMI may define you as overweight even if your weight isn't actually a problem. Or, your BMI may say you're at a healthy weight, when in fact, you are carrying a high proportion of dangerous belly fat. For women, waist circumference should be below 88 cm (35 inches), while for men, it should be below 102 cm (40 inches).

The cold, hard numbers don't lie. But even if you know your weight is a problem, do you have to take action now? In a word, Yes!

While you may have the best intentions in the world to start a weight loss plan some time in the not-too-distant future, there really is no time like the present.

It may seem harmless to "weight it out a little" but if you don't take action now, you run the risk of gaining even more weight. According to a report, once people are overweight, their weight is more likely to keep increasing, eventually pushing them into obesity territory. The report found that almost one quarter of adult Canadians who were considered overweight were found to be obese 8 years later. In comparison, only 10% of those who were overweight were at a normal weight after the same time period.

Through adulthood, many people slowly gain small amounts of weight, even as little as a pound or so a year.

That may not seem like much, but over time it can add up - turning a little excess poundage into a "growing" problem.

Need another reason to maintain a healthy weight? A loss of 5% to 10% of your body weight along with 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise can reduce your risk of diabetes by almost 60%.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team

As found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - The Fuss About Fat

The Fuss About Fat

So what's all the fuss about fat anyway? To put it simply, obesity is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in North America.
Some of the conditions associated with obesity are:

• breathing disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• certain types of cancers (e.g., prostate and bowel cancer in men, breast and uterine cancer in women)
• coronary artery (heart) disease
• depression
• diabetes
• gall bladder or liver disease
• gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD)
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• joint disease (e.g., osteoarthritis)
• stroke

If you are diagnosed with many of these conditions, being obese can also worsen your prognosis and increase your risk of complications. And the more obese you are, the more likely you are to have medical problems related to obesity.
Aside from the medical complications, obesity is also linked to psychosocial problems such as low self-esteem, discrimination, difficulty finding employment, and reduced quality of life.
But the good news is that losing even a small amount of weight can help to reduce your risk of many of these medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about what an appropriate weight is for you and what you can do to get there.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

                                                                              As  found @ http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases frffom recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Overweight Or Obese

Overweight or obese?

If you've been paying any attention to the news lately, you've likely heard a lot about obesity. But what is obesity and how does it differ from plain old overweight? And why is a little body fat so harmful anyway?

Your weight "status" is roughly determined by your body mass index or BMI, which is a number that compares your weight to your height. A healthy BMI ranges between 18.5 and 24.9, while anything under 18.5 is considered underweight. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9 you might be considered overweight, depending on your age and muscular status. If it's over 30.0, you've joined the 23% of Canadians that are considered obese.

Are you overweight? Check your BMI

So what causes obesity? It's not just a question of eating too much - though that can be a factor. Actually, there are many contributing factors. These can include:

• consuming more food than your body actually needs
• not being active enough
• genetics
• your metabolism
• social factors
• economic factors
• psychological/emotional factors

So, what's all the fuss and concern? The fact is that obesity has health consequences. The complications resulting from obesity can have a considerable negative effect on the quality and length of a person's life. These complications can also have a significant impact on health care costs. People who are obese are at a higher risk of numerous illnesses, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and more.

As Found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.