Mineral County health officer offers insight into losing weight
Is Weight Loss Your New Year’s Resolution?
Like most of us, you have probably written “lose weight” as one of your New Year’s resolutions. In fact, it’s the number one resolution that people attempt. Most, however, get frustrated and give up.
Like everything else worth doing, weight loss takes time and patience. It’s well worth it when you take a look at the facts regarding those extra pounds you’re carrying around. If those pounds keep multiplying, you could wake up one day and realize that your weight is affecting your lifestyle as well as your health.
• For some people, obesity can be symptomless, but that’s not typical. It usually leads to a host of problems including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, gout, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis, among others. If this has your attention, here are some things to help you get started on
a lifelong path to health.
• Wondering if you might be obese? It’s generally determined by body mass index (BMI). You can figure your BMI with a math problem, but your second resolution might have been “do less math” so, the easiest thing is to find a website that will do the calculation for you. There are a many out there that can help. Anything above 30 BMI is considered obese.
• Treatment for obesity is diet and exercise. You probably didn’t want to hear that. It’s easier said than done, and there is no substitute for putting your mind to it and getting yourself moving. The more you eat, the more activity is needed to burn those calories. If you don’t burn the calories, your body converts them to fat. The more you exercise and stay active, the more calories you can get away with consuming.
• A few medications are available to help with weight loss. Many of them speed up metabolism, thus helping your body burn more calories. The problem is, you shouldn’t take them for extended periods of time. When you stop taking them, your body goes right back to it’s old ways, and the weight comes back. Some help block fat absorption, but there are side
effects to this as well.
• If your BMI is greater than 35-40 (considered morbidly obese), surgical treatment is an option. Surgery should never to be taken lightly, and can
lead to multiple negative side effects. If this option is considered, it must
be discussed with a qualified surgeon.
Why am I overweight?
AGE; the older you get, the slower you metabolize your food
GENDER; men tend to have a resting metabolic rate higher than women. Women’s metabolic rate slows down with menopause.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS; boredom, sadness and anger can lead to more eating
ILLNESS; depression and thyroid issues can cause weight to accumulate
MEDICATION; steroids, antidepressants and pain medication can cause weight gain
In Montana the average adult BMI is 26.5% vs the US at 10-30%, depending on where you live. In Mineral county, we rate at 42%. For those of you who are sticking to your second resolution, that’s way above the average. For children, the US average BMI is 13-18%. In Mineral county, we are again higher at 24%. Not only is this a very sad statistic, but it means that we as parents must take the first step in helping our kids get on the right track to living a healthy life. Obesity in children leads to all the same health problems that it does in adults, and has a tendency to lead to lifelong obesity. But along with those health problems, it can also lead to emotional issues, which are much more difficult to ‘cure’.
The answer, or at least a good place to start…
With any exercise or weight loss regimen, you should check with your qualified physician to make sure you can safely start a program. There are many diets and exercise plans out there. It’s always best to discuss your personal situation with your doctor, so you get the best solution for your specific issues.
Once you do that…
Grab the kids and the dog and get outside. Hike, run, bike or walk. Jump rope, walk on stilts… Get moving. Be careful not to overdo it, as the old adage, ‘no pain, no gain’ does not apply here. Pushing it too quickly can cause injury and postpone your weight loss. A walk several times a week may save you money on medical bill
and medications.
Watch what you eat. If in doubt, fresh fruits and vegetables are always the better choice compared to processed items. Check the amount on your plate. You should be able to actually see the plate.
Remember…
Your doctor can help you decide on the best exercise and eating plan to suit your needs and your lifestyle.
It’s a New Year! Get out there and enjoy it!