We all know that carrying a few extra pounds is not a good thing, but what does it actually mean for our overall health? In addition to adding extra stress on our joints, we become at risk for a variety of health risk factors. I’m hoping the information learned in this article, readers will apply to their own “fit plans.” Because obesity, which has become an epidemic among Americans, is not only a problem among adults but rapidly becoming a public health problem for children and adolescents. 

 What do the numbers mean?

 We all watch the scale to see if our body weight fluctuates, which gives us an idea if we’re packing on the pounds or not, but what is actually happening? The interesting part to weight loss / gain is that, as adults, as we age we lose half a pound of muscle per year if we do not do any activities (exercise) to promote muscle growth. Now even if we maintain our weight, but are not exercising your body has lost that half pound of muscle and replaced it with fat. You still have the same body weight, but now your body is composed of more body fat. You continue this cycle and what happens is your body composition continues to shift to a higher percentage of body fat which decreases your metabolism (making it even harder to lose weight) and decreasing your body’s muscle mass decreasing your strength and endurance. If you have the opportunity to have your body composition calculated the following standards, according to ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, these are the ranges in which your body should fall into:

 Women          Ages  30 – 50 yrs.  -  23 – 25%    Average

 Men                Ages  30 – 50 yrs.   -  19 – 24%      Average

Body composition can be measured by many methods, skinfold calipers, hydrostatic weighing, and there are many devices and scales. The key to accuracy is making sure you have a qualified professional conducting the test.

 What is my BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI), a common measurement of “body fatness”, takes into account your body weight and height. There are many BMI calculators out there that allow you to plug in your numbers and see where you stand. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a normal BMI ranges from 18.5 – 24.9, and anything 30 or more is considered “obese.” 

The CDC reports that in 2009, 35 states reported having an average BMI of 25 or greater, with nine reporting an average of 30 or greater, and these stats continue to rise.  The CDC has a very interesting chart that shows the progression of this “public health problem” over the last 20 years, that just makes me shake my head and say “wow, this is a national problem." A high BMI has been linked to many health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 Diabetes. All of these health problems also adding up to high risk for heart disease, cancer, decreased quality of life, decreased productivity, increased health care costs, and increased risk of mortality.

 The scarier picture

 The scarier issue that is now prevalent in our society are the number of children and adolescents who now fall into the category of obese. The CDC reports that 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese which has tripled from one generation ago. These children are now experiencing what were once considered “adult” conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. As a result, these conditions put them at risk in their childhood, for heart diseases, cancer, and other serious medical conditions.

 Take a look at where you are

 Right now if you have a high BMI or body composition and do not have one of the medical conditions listed above you are not out of the woods. Carrying extra weight IS a risk factor for all of these medical conditions and it is only a matter of time before you experience one of them. The good news is that you CAN do something about your body weight and composition. The earlier you get a handle on your body composition the better off your quality of life will be as you age.  Obesity is treatable and preventable, so start now to take that weight off to lower your risk factors for serious medical conditions and give your body the chance to function without that extra stress of the additional pounds.