You're "Obese"- Now What?

Yesterday's WAKE UP blog entry referred to the USPSTF recommendation that all patients who have a BMI >30 should be referred to an "intensive, multicomponent behavioral intervention" in order to lose weight and therefore decrease their health risk. These recommendations are evidence-based, focusing on patient outcomes (disease states, not purely lab numbers).

What is "intensive"? 

• 12-26 sessions per year (often weekly to begin, then monthly.)

What is "multicomponent"?

• Individual or group sessions with physicians, dietitians, and other trained providers
• Include physical activity
• Address issues that keep people from changing behaviors
• Encourage self-monitering of nutrition and exercise

What results can be expected? 

• Weight loss typically ranges from 8.8-15.4 pounds in the first year
• Glucose tolerance is greatly improved- in fact,  that there is a 50% decrease in new diabetes diagnoses in only 2-3 years 
• Cardiovascular risk factors are improved (lower cholesterol & lower blood pressures)

If your BMI is >30, you are more likely to develop heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, certain cancers (esophagus, breast, uterine, colon, kidney, thyroid,  and gall bladder). It doesn't matter if you LOOK "okay"- this is NOT a cosmetic issue! While 15 pounds may not be all you need to lose, often that is enough weight loss to make a very significant positive impact on your health

BOTTOM LINE: Talk with your doctor about your BMI at this year's annual physical, and prioritize a healthier lifestyle starting today.

How are the Poor Obese?

When did it become the norm that poor people are obese? Right now, 1 in 3 Americans are obese, and nearly 2 in 3 are overweight or obese. Throughout history, the poor have been HUNGRY...and thin. Meat has become cheaper than grains and vegetables, while we super-size and sugar everything. Check out the CDC's latest info on obesity in America for some shocking statistics...

Remember when going to the ice cream store meant picking out a single scoop of your favorite one of 31 flavors? Now the ice cream is simply the base, and we put multiple toppings of fudge and CANDY on top of our multiple scoops. In simply the past decade, fast food sales climbed from $107,147 BILLION to $164,836 BILLION dollars per year. Hmm...what if we spent some of those BILLIONS on health promotion, instead?

Obesity has numerous health consequences: Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancers (such as colon, breast and uterine), liver disease, sleep apnea and joint problems (especially knee and hip.) Our estimated obesity-related medical costs as a nation are $147 Billion annually. The obese INDIVIDUAL spends at least $1400 more on their medical care than a normal weight person.

BOTTOM LINE: Stop looking for the perfect diet, diet pill, or most amazing gym, and start making common sense small changes, like focusing on eating MORE vegetables and fruits and getting MORE active!