OBESITY

HEART DISEASE

Information: obesity & weight loss issues. Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrate and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat - especially in your waist area - you're at higher risk for health problems, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or greater (consistent with criteria of the World Health Organization), or about 30 pounds or more overweight. Extreme obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 or greater.

Obesity and heart disease

Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.

Obesity

1. Raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Lowers HDL "good" cholesterol.
2. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so reducing it tends to raise the risk.
3. Raises blood pressure levels.
4. Can induce diabetes.
5. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse.
6. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.

The American Heart Association guidelines for weight management:

Weight loss to improve cardiovascular health is a high priority of the American Heart Association because approximately 34% of the population is overweight. There is a great deal of public, commercial, and medical interest in promoting long-term weight loss programs.

Diet and Nutrition

The nutritional recommendations for each participant's treatment should include a personal food plan that takes into account current eating habits, lifestyle, ethnicity and culture, energy needs, any diet prescription related to medical treatment, and potential nutrient-drug interactions.

Food selection

• No more than 5 to 8 teaspoons of fats and oils per day, including the fats used in cooking and baking and in salad dressings and spreads.
• Six ounces or less of lean meat, fish, or skinless poultry.
• No more than three or four egg yolks per week.
• Two to four servings of nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products per day.
• Five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
• Six or more servings of breads, cereals, rice, pasta, other grains, and starchy vegetables per day.

Exercise

Exercise should be considered one of the highest priorities of a weight management program. The weight management program should include an exercise component that is safe and appropriate for each participant.

Before exercise recommendations are made, each person should be screened for conditions in which exercise could be contraindicated. Participants should be made aware of both normal and abnormal physiological responses to exercise.

They should work toward performing at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity five to seven times per week. In addition, increasing leisure-time activity levels should be encouraged.

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS SHOPPING