Overweight Children Statistics

January 23rd, 2010

A few years ago, I heard about a very disturbing survey. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the statistical details, but I’ll never forget the point. Someone asked a group of children in a US primary school if they would rather lose an arm or be fat. Some overwhelming percentage (I want to say close to 80 percent) said they would rather lose the arm. Think about that for a second. Our society places such a severe stigma on being overweight that 5-year-old children say they would rather give up an arm than be fat.
There’s so much pressure around us to be thin that it’s easy to forget that optimal body weight really is about our health, and not just our trouser size. But recently, a couple of new studies on health and weight confirmed that maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves – and that letting it slide can be the most dangerous.
In one study, the American Medical Association reported that on average, obese people were found to have nearly twice the chronic health problems of people of normal weight. Keep in mind that obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. (BMI is a mathematical formula that calculates the ratio of height to weight.) It was adopted by the National Institutes of Health in 1998 as the new gold standard in body weight.
BMI’s of 18.5 to 24.9 are considered “normal,” while values of 25 and over are considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher ranks as obese. According to the AMA study, about 56 percent of the American population falls into the overweight group. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 19.8 percent of Americans are obese. Before BMI was introduced, the old Metropolitan Life height-and-weight charts were the yardstick and body weights 20 percent or more above the recommended levels were considered obese. Here in the UK things aren’t much better, as we’re getting fatter as a nation and obesity rates are on the increase.
But it was the other study I found absolutely shocking. It was put out by the RAND Institute in Santa Monica and was published in the latest edition of the British journal “Public Health.” Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the study consisted of a telephone survey of 9,585 adults who were asked about their weight, height, smoking and drinking habits, income, quality of life, and if they had any of 17 chronic health problems, including asthma, cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
The researchers found that the obese people had slightly more health problems than people in poverty, and far more than daily smokers or heavy drinkers, indicating that obesity may be a much greater health risk. Honestly, I was dumb-founded. Smoking, heavy drinking, and poverty – these are three very strong, very negative forces with staggering effects on health. It seems almost unfathomable that being overweight could be more dangerous than they are. Obviously we aren’t saying that smoking or heavy drinking are good for you, but thought the comparison was very powerful.
If you’ve tried to lose weight and feel like you’ve lost the struggle, I can sympathize. Weight is something I’ve struggled with most of my life. So please don’t think I’m giving this advice lightly or think it’s as easy as skipping a serving of potatoes. Being overweight is a complex physical, mental and emotional problem for most of us who struggle with it. But looking at these studies, I realize that the time has to be now. I don’t want to wake up in 10 years and still be saying, “I’ll start tomorrow.”
In recent weeks, I’ve gotten back into an exercise routine that I’d been lax about, given up deserts, and stopped drinking all fizzy drinks – diet and regular.
Trust me. I know how hard it is. There are many mornings when I would rather push the snooze button than get up and get on that treadmill (today was one of them). And, as I said, I’ve given up a lot of my favorite foods recently. But it seems silly to have quit smoking years ago only to learn that a weight problem may end up being even more dangerous for me.
Let’s stop putting it off until tomorrow and start today – right now. It’s the absolute best thing we can do for ourselves – and the people who love us. And as those pounds come off (and they will!), you’ll look great while doing something important for your health.

January 15th, 2010

The Atkins diet principles lay the foundation for a healthy, more balanced way of eating than the standard American diet. Its emphasis is on using good carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The average American eats lots of processed foods that have hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates. This has put most Americans on the road to diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions. What is sad is that diabetes has a predictable set of stages and that they can be easily recognized. The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index with regards to the level of insulin reaction they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index. We are able to more readily digest these foods as children, because our bodies function more efficiently in our youth. There may have been side effects, like weight gain and mood swings, but they didn’t stand out. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more prevalent. The nation-wide obesity epidemic is a result of high-carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels. Many people who are overweight are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas gets over worked and it releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This results in the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem. With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties become more aggravated. The condition is called “hyperinsulinism” and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is normally accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides. After years of using a high-carbohydrate diet, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the body’s primary fat creator and extra pounds usually accompany late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely. However, there are easily identifiable warning signs to diabetes that appear early. Your family doctor can perform insulin level tests that will let you know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic conditions, and studies show that low-carb diets like Atkins can help. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most effective methods to controlling pre-diabetic conditions. The Atkins diet helps effectively control blood sugar. The combination of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates will keep your body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity as well as type will help limit the insulin spikes. This will let your pancreas work in the way that it was meant to be, and it will decrease the likelihood of your developing pre-diabetic conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively it produces stable blood sugar throughout the day and helps you stay off the road to diabetes.

January 9th, 2010

Psychological and emotional stress among mothers may trickle down to their kids and increase their children’s risk of having diabetes. Mothers who experienced a stressful event such as divorce, domestic violence, mental tension and work pressure have an increased risk of developing diabetes. Parents who are often stressed out or are having problems is the number one stressor among children. Without the parent’s knowledge, children may get stressed, raising level of cortisol-also called the “stress hormone”. Cortisol is found adjacent to the kidneys and is released in response to either physical or psychological stress. It breaks down muscle protein into its component amino acid which then circulates the bloodstream. These amino acids are used by the liver in the manufacture of glucose for energy increasing blood sugar level and at the same time lowering the use of glucose as fuel. The excess and deficiency of cortisol in the body may trigger some system disorders such as autoimmunity damaging the insulin-producing beta cells thus resulting in insulin deficiency. Children with diabetes who experience frequent episode of severe low blood sugar or hypoglycemia particularly at an early age may have reduced long-term memory performance than diabetic children who experience severe hypoglycemia at a later age. A diabetic children’s spatial memory performance may be greatly affected by episodes of extreme low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of glucose in the blood or low blood sugar. Anti-diabetic medicines that are taken orally by the mouth are effective as insulin injection in controlling symptoms of diabetes. The number of people with diabetes continues to rise while their ages at the time of diagnosis drop. Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult – onset diabetes, is now striking children, due largely to the obesity epidemic. Overweight and obese kids that present identifying symptoms like darkness around neck and armpits area are those who frequently get urinary tract infection (UTI). Diabetes if not properly managed can lead to many complications such as amputation and damage to key organs of the body like the eyes, kidney and the heart. It takes every ounce of restraints and discipline on the part of the patient to be able to follow the rigid diet and medication regimen required for the management of disease. Having diabetes requires careful examination of ones sugar level. Besides watching for sign of high blood sugar, they also have to be aware of warning signs of blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Using blood glucose meter, a person who has diabetes can tell his/her sugar level is low. Normal fasting blood sugar is 70 to 100 mg/dl.

December 21st, 2009

Do you know what the most important thing in life is? That’s HEALTH! This is the “ONE” thing that we all need to take Care and Control. The reason is very simple, without HEALTH everything else is useless…….

Let’s talk today about one of the growing problems we all are facing – OBESITY and OVERWEIGHT.

Did you know that by statistics obesity took over tobacco industry? Thousands of people die every year from obesity and obesity related diseases.

Obesity is an epidemic peculiar to this century. We must decide whether we address it today, or pass it on to future generations. Comprehensive changes to the way we live have led to this problem, and we are all aware that action in the field of health alone is not enough.

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.

 approximately 1.6 billion adults (age 15+) were overweight;

 at least 400 million adults were obese.

 At least 20 million children under the age of 5 years are overweight globally.

What causes obesity and overweight?

The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories expended on the other hand. Global increases in overweight and obesity are attributable to a number of factors including:

a global shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients; and a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization.

What can be done for this problem?

Have you ever wondered why the older you get the harder it is to maintain your weight, let alone lose it?

There are people that work out every day for an hour a day and eat low-fat foods, and they still can’t get those ten pounds off. As they get older they notice that their cravings for fats and sweets increase. They get more illnesses. They have more physical problems. They are tired all the time.

Of course you want answers on What? Why? How? All those will be discussed in details in following 12 topics. These topics can help you to discover the simplest ways to protect yourself and take control of your health starting today.

You can find these topics in http://www.HealthObesity.info

December 21st, 2009

We all see the “daily” news reports that diseases linked to obesity that are increasingly lethal in the world today. The death totals for diseases related to obesity have increased by more than thirty percent in the last decade. Obesity contributes to heart disease, stroke and diabetes and do not forget that they contribute to a host of diseases, including arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported in a new study that self-reported diabetes has skyrocketed over the past six years. They also argue that obesity is the main cause of this dramatic increase. These groups most at risk are people older, less educated and minorities. Minorities are predisposed than white Caucasians to develop diabetes. The first study was done on a regional basis, the new study focused on the whole nation. The reports are alarming, and the CDC are concerned, there will be even more problems in the future. The surgeon general said that the number of obese or overweight adults in this country is fifty percent higher than it was just a decade ago. Children and young adults are increasingly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is mainly known as adult-diabetes, and hypertension is a problem with 24 percent of the population in children. Also studies show that one third of children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes, which also leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney problems, and undermines the brain to function properly. Researchers have found that obesity can also disrupt the metabolism of insulin in the body. They found that being overweight the waistlines lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes and even cancer. An interesting fact that adults who ate fast food at least twice a week and gained ten pounds were more likely to develop diabetes. Fast-foods are not considered as part of a healthy eating pattern, although some fast-food franchises have been the introduction of fruits, salads and bottled water for more healthy choices. We now know that adults should not lose five to seven per cent of their body fat to reduce the risk for diabetes and heart disease. This means that a 200-pound person would only have to lose a little as ten pounds to see benefits. A moderate change in lifestyle not only help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, but also an asset to your health in many other ways. Exercise also benefits circulation problems, heart problems, osteoporosis, and many other health problems. Marche moderate light and stretching routines are a good way to start an exercise program healthy. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program. They will be able to guide you through the launch and provide effective ways to begin. Studies have shown that increasing your level of exercise, working up to 30 minutes per day, or having some form of moderate physical activity will bring good results. Even walking slowly, instead recommended brisk walking will give you many advantages. Mild resistance exercises or yoga routines are good ways to start an exercise program. Try parking your car farther in the parking lot when you go shopping. This adds some additional measures and if you do always stages of assembly. You want May to try to march in place during the television. Education is the key to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adults. Many of us do not understand the link between calorie intake, good and bad carbohydrates, and the ratio of protein and fat in their diet. Just understand what happens to food in your body consumes will help us stay healthy. See the results of obesity and diseases related to obesity are a good way to help us decide to start living a healthier lifestyle. Regular exercise and healthy eating will greatly reduce the risk of a disease related to obesity such as diabetes. As adults, we must take the initiative in our families to fight against this epidemic diseases related to obesity. We have the capacity to monitor what children eat, look at labels before buying a product at the store, and make meals and snacks for our families.

December 18th, 2009

Children with diabetes are becoming a major problem in this country and throughout the world. This childhood epidemic is growing. What is the problem? The trend is more and more. In 1999 13% -14% of boys and girls aged six to 19 were overweight. Over the past two decades, these figures have increased by 300%. More children have diabetes. That means probably more adults suffer from diabetes in the future? A large percentage (over 80%) of children and adolescents with diabetes are overweight. And this trend is more and more. We are less and less physical. Many of our activities are either on the computer, watch TV or play video games. It is so cool to have the latest and greatest cell phone with all the gadgets, or most updated software for those computers. With less movement is increased in circumference. Our children are waiting for us to show the way. As an adult, you can transmit the message to your children so that they can take advantage of what you’ve learned. The disease is the same as for adults as for children. If you eat healthy and exercise allows you to avoid the disease diabetes. If you have diabetes while eating a smart exercise is not an option. You must change and it is also true of your children.  Love you children at all costs. I know that sounds kind of corny, but if your child is overweight, he or she almost certainly knows that. Be there for her or him encouraging his excellent form eating habits. As fruit and vegetables. Avoid foods that cause diabetes as sugar, carbohydrates and foods that contain high levels of transportation and saturated fat. These are probably the foods that have brought on diabetes disease in the first place. Support your children, no matter what. Show them an abundance of love and care. If you live a healthy lifestyle, they are more likely to do the same thing as you. This will be beneficial for both of you. Create time together where you and your child can exercise. If you like to play a sport or as a work programme to see if you can get your child in the same program. This will create a partnership with your child that can last a lifetime. To help your child at this critical point in their lives is something that can improve your relationship forever. It includes an MP3 free by the diabetic Warrior to help you with a regime that can help. The diabetic Warrior lost over 100 pounds through diet and diabetes fight. I am very proud to be able to give you free MP3.

December 16th, 2009

Do you struggle with weight loss? Some days, you feel gung-ho. You’re ready to eat salad and chicken all day long, forsaking desserts for good. Other days, you feel completely hopeless. You think, “why bother?” as you reach to open a bag of cookies.

When fighting a war against unhealthy habits, you will win and lose some battles. The key is keeping in touch with the “why” behind your weight loss so you can win over the long haul. Why do you want to lose your pregnancy pounds? To be attractive? Healthier? For your husband or your kids’ sake? When you’re in touch with your values, the decisions become clear. You’re driven by something higher than your taste buds.

Sometimes you have to consider what you don’t want to realize what you do want:

1. Don’t become a statistic. The proportion of Americans who are overweight or obese has been rising for the past 25 years. Don’t be part of the nearly two-thirds of women in the United States who are overweight, or the one-third who are obese. Being part of this crowd means you’re high risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other major health problems. And the most sobering thing is that your children will follow you.

2. Don’t be a victim. Maybe you come from a family that has struggled with being overweight for generations. Or you find yourself depressed and unable to make wise decisions. Don’t give in to the victim mentality. You can do something positive to turn your situation around. You are not stuck with a particular destiny unless you surrender your will.

3. Don’t wait for a feeling. Most days, you won’t “feel” motivated. Sustainable motivation doesn’t begin with a feeling. It begins with a decision you make with your mind.

Chances are you don’t want to be a statistic, a victim or a procrastinator. Now is the time to make some decisions that will change the course of your life and your children’s. When you need motivation, just look at your precious baby. What kind of health do you want for him or her? Let healthy eating and exercise begin with you!

Today’s Action Step: What is your personal motivation for losing weight after baby?

December 8th, 2009

Again and again we are told that “Obesity in America is Epidemic” and that this health threatening condition is being spread worldwide. Look around you and no doubt you will conclude that obesity is rapidly spreading. We blame it all on a sedentary life style and the Mc Donald’s / TV / Computer / Video games generation.
Statistics seem to confirm these points. For the first time in world history more people are overfed rather than underfed. Overweight children at historic highs. An estimated 15 % of boys and girls 6 to 11 years of age are overweight. Children are gaining more weight over the summer than during the school year. Computer and video game “screen time” shows an astonishing 8 hours a day in the United States. Throw in fast foods and this will all explain the current plague of obesity and along with the plague of diabetes which is increasing in rate at an astonishing rate.
Blame it all on fat we are told. If we reduce our fat levels all of this will go away. However it may be that our problems of obesity are a direct result of our cutting out and reducing fat intake not the other way around.
Isn’t it amazing you would think? As a society we have cut our fat intake and cholesterol levels to the bone and yet we get fatter and fatter and have ever increasing amounts of diabetes in our society?
It may well be that it is not the fat that is bad for us – rather it is the refined carbohydrates specifically that are the evil ones. This includes – refined sugars as found in bread and other baked goods, potatoes , yams and obvious refined sugar containing foods such as ice cream , candy , soft drinks , beer and fruit juices.
Mankind was not created to eat a diet high in starches or grains, let alone refined sugars. It was only when man invented agriculture, in the recent past that grain products and concentrated sugars were introduced into our diets.
It is not fat that will make you fat. It is not by eating fat that you will have a much greater chance of diabetes and other health problems. It is not even high serum cholesterol, from eating fatty foods such as steaks or butter that will do you in but rather the amount of these refined starches and sugars in your diet.
On top of that we are told that obesity is simply a result of sedentary behaviors – sitting in front of the TV or video games rather than exercising. In fact it is the other way around. People, who exercise, get hungry, eat and gain weight.
We get fat because of tons of insulin in our bloodstream.
Insulin is needed by our body to break down fat. Obese people need more and more insulin to burn off the fat in their bodies. The fatter you are, the more insulin your pancreas will pump out after a meal. It’s a like a drug addict needing more and more drug to get a high. The body’s need to have more and more insulin to burn the same amount of fat in an obese person is referred to as “insulin resistance”.
It’s the refined carbohydrates and starches that cause the body to secrete insulin in the first place. Fat does not matter. In the end it’s all about refined sugars and wheat products such as pasta that cause our problems and not fat.
In the end obesity and our plague of ever increasing diabetes is not about fat, fatty foods and fat intake and not exercising but rather about our intake of refined sugars, bread and pasta products. It is not about fat and cholesterol. They really do not matter much when it comes to making you fat and obese .

November 25th, 2009

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot properly produce or
use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that turns the foods you eat
into energy. If your body cannot turn food into energy, not only
will your cells be starved for energy, you will also build up
glucose (sugar) in your blood. This will lead you to have “high
blood glucose levels.” Over years, the high blood glucose level
can damage major organs like your heart, eyes, and kidneys.

Statistics:

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 18.2
million people in the United States with Diabetes. That’s 6.3%
of the population.

Diabetes is found in both men and women over the age of 20.
About one-third of Diabetics do not know that they have it.
African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to have diabetes
than Whites. Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes
than Whites.

Type 1 is most often found in children, with the peak incidence
at puberty. Type 2 is generally found in adults, however an
alarmingly growing number of children are now diagnosed with
type 2 Diabetes. One of the main causes is overweight.

Types:

1. Type 1 Diabetes is caused by a total lack of insulin that, in
turn, produces high blood glucose levels. Type 1 is most often
is seen in children, but can develop in adults. If you have Type
1, your health care provider might recommend scheduled,
nutritious meals, exercise, medication, and frequent blood sugar
level tests.

2. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough
insulin or cannot properly use insulin. This is the most common
type. The treatment may be similar to Type 1.

3. Pre Diabetes or Borderline Diabetes may occur before a Type 2
diagnosis. Blood glucose levels will be higher than normal. Good
nutrition and exercise may be recommended by your health care
provider as treatment for pre diabetes. Even a slightly high
blood sugar level is insidious and could affect major organs
over time.

4. Gestational Diabetes occurs in pregnant women that have high
blood glucose levels. This type of Diabetes can harm both Mother
and baby. If you have Gestational Diabetes, your health care
provider may prescribe meal plans, exercise, daily testing and
medicine.

Symptoms:

The main symptom of diabetes is the lack of insulin activity or
the inability for the body to create insulin.

Other symptoms include:

1. increase in urine production

2. blurry vision

3. irritability

4. extreme hunger

5. excessive weight loss

6. increased fatigue

Causes and Risk Factors:

The exact causes of Diabetes are still unknown. However,
heredity, obesity and lack of exercise may play a role. Here are
some general risk factors:

1. Your siblings or parents have diabetes.

2. You are more than 20% overweight.

3. You do not exercise.

4. You have had gestational diabetes or you have had a baby over
9 lbs.

5. You have high blood pressure.

6. Your cholesterol level is not normal.

Treatment Options:

According to the American Diabetes Association, people with
Diabetes have the same nutritional needs as everyone else. In
addition to prescribed medications, well-balanced meals may help
you keep your blood glucose level as normal as possible.

Also, just like everyone else, exercise is an important part of
staying healthy. Exercising with diabetes does require a few
extra safety steps that your health care professional can make
you aware of.

Nutritious meals, an exercise routine, along with the help of
your doctor may aid you in controlling your Diabetes. Diabetes
will never truly go away, but with proper nutrition, exercise
and prescribed medications, it can be controlled.

Outlook:

There is no cure for Diabetes, but the treatment options are
becoming better than they’ve ever been. Self-monitoring devices
for blood glucose levels and administering insulin are the areas
that have seen the most improvement. The following are a list of
new treatment options that are currently being researched:

1. Insulin Pump Implants – a permanently implanted pump that
will measure blood sugar levels and deliver the exact amount of
insulin needed.

2. Insulin Capsule Implant – an insulin capsule that can be
implanted to continuously release insulin into the bloodstream.

3. Insulin Inhaler – a rapid-acting insulin that is inhaled
into the mouth. Currently in clinical trials.

4. Insulin Pill – Currently, the pill form has only been tested
in animals.

5. Continuous Monitoring Device – The GlucoWatch Biographer, a
wristwatch-like device, has been approved by the FDA. It is
intended as a companion for the fingertip blood test to monitor
glucose, in order to ensure accurate results.

6. Islet Cell Transplant – For people with Type 1 Diabetes,
helps patients become insulin free for up to 14 months after
treatment. Currently in clinical trials.

7. Gene Therapy

8. A Diabetes Vaccine – To prevent or slow the progress of Type
1 Diabetes