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Hormone Replacement Therapy vs. Natural Progesterone
If your doctor has recently prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) supplements, you probably have a lot of questions. You’re not alone. Throughout our many years in the industry, our most commonly asked question is, “Why don’t doctors...
Important Steps That Can Lower Your Risk Of Colorectal Cancer
(NC)-March marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Barry Stein, President of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada and a colon cancer survivor, wants Canadians to know that the goal of the campaign is to generate...
Learn More About Indole 3 Carbinol
“Eat your brussel sprouts!”
Mom really did have a great reason for forcing us to eat those horrible vegetables but I bet she didn’t even know the full benefits.
It turns out that cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower,...
Obesity - The American Epidemic
Obesity – What is it? Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people in the United States, where women are especially affected. Over one-third of women between the ages of 20 and 74 are obese, the majority of them being African...
Understanding Your Breasts: Making an Informed Decision About Breast Implants
A woman's breast is a gland that produces milk in late pregnancy and after childbirth. Each breast is made of lobes which are groups of milk glands called lobules. Lobules are arranged around thin tubes called ducts which carry the milk to the...
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Obesity and Weight Loss Explained
What is Obesity?
Obesity means an excessively high proportion of body fat.
Overweight refers to an excess of body weight, but not
necessarily body fat. Health professionals use a measurement
called body mass index (BMI) to classify an adult's weight as
healthy, overweight, or obese. BMI describes body weight
relative to height and is correlated with total body fat content
in most adults. Generally, the higher your BMI, the higher your
health risk, and the risk increases even further if your waist
size is greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women.
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop
heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes,
gallbladder disease, and joint pain caused by excess uric acid
(gout). Excess weight can also cause interrupted breathing
during sleep and wearing away of the joints (osteoarthritis).
Carrying extra weight means carrying an extra risk for certain
types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, prostate, and
colon cancer.
Losing Weight
Most overweight people should lose weight gradually. Sometimes,
people with serious health problems associated with obesity may
have legitimate reasons for losing weight rapidly. If so, a
physician's supervision is required. Experts recommend that
people who are overweight or obese should concentrate on
engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining healthy
eating habits.
See your doctor for advice about
your overall health risk and
the weight loss options that are best for you. Together, decide
whether you should go on a moderate diet or whether other
options might be appropriate. Check with your doctor and make
sure that your health status allows lowering your caloric intake
and increasing your physical activity.
Successful weight loss and healthy weight management depend on
sensible goals and expectations. Doctors, dieticians, and other
experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer
calories and increase your physical activity. Follow a
calorie-reduced balanced diet that provides for 1-2 pounds of
weight loss a week. Be sure to include at least five servings a
day of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean meat
and low fat dairy products. Make time in your day for some form
of physical activity. Walking is an excellent form of physical
activity that almost everyone can do. In addition to helping to
control weight, physical activity decreases the risk of dying
from coronary heart disease and reduces the risk of developing
diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.
About the author:
Copyright © 2005. Bridget Mwape writes for the Nutritional
Supplements Website at:
http://www.nutritional-supplements.org.uk and she's also a
regular contributor to the Outdoor Gear Website at
http://www.outdoor-gear.org.uk/
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