Maintaining Your Health Winter 2004/2005
  
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Turning Obesity & Overweight into a Health Lifestyle
   
On April 5, the State of California’s Department of Health Services (CDHS) estimated that health care expenses for overweight, obese or inactive residents will cost nearly $29 billion in 2005.

Researchers found that 53% of the state residents over the age of 25 were overweight and 17% were considered obese.

While these figures are alarming (one out of every two people is overweight), they are in line with national statistics published by the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). For example in the years 1999-2002, nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults age 20 years and over were overweight or obese, and 30% were considered obese. Fifteen percent of children (ages 6-11) and adolescents (ages 12-19) are overweight.

The American Heart Association, in a separate publication, notes that 134.8 million Americans are overweight or obese (68.6 million men; 66.2 million women.)

The health consequences of being obese or overweight can be serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control, some of these include:
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes
• Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
• Hyperinsulinemia
• Coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure
• Stroke
• Gallstones
• Gout
• Obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Psychological disorders (such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image, and low self-esteem)

While the causes of obesity and overweight vary, experts agree that controlling food intake and being physically active make a difference in attaining a higher level of physical fitness. In California, for example, Susan Foerster, chief of cancer prevention and nutrition at CDHS, said that Californians have gained weight in part because of the popularity of automobiles, an increase in fast-food restaurants, long work hours and the long commutes.

The first step in regaining a healthy lifestyle is to become aware of obesity and overweight conditions and then decide to take action. The Employee Benefit Trust covers charges from licensed dieticians to design a healthier lifestyle.

The following links can provide more information about the problem of obesity and overweight, and provide useful insights about taking proper action.

National Center for Health Statistics Centers for Disease Control
American Heart Association
What is Obesity?
Health Consequences
Nutrition and Physical Activity
U.S. Surgeon General: Overweight and Obesity: What You Can Do
Fitness and Fatness Boom?
The New American Paradox: Exercise and the Ballooning of Nation, American Sports Data Inc.

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