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Where You Stand
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Experts are increasingly urging people to know their BMI, a figure that takes into account not just weight but also height to indicate body fat.
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Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Not all bodies are made to be thin. For some people, a healthy weight is higher or lower than the average weight listed on weight charts.
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Using body mass index (BMI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) puts the definition of overweight at 25 to 29.9 BMI. A BMI of 30 and above qualifies a person as obese. A person with a BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight, the equivalent of 221 pounds for a person who is 6 feet tall, or 186 pounds for someone who is 5-foot-6.
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We've all heard warnings, yet many of us keep gaining weight. More than half of American adults are overweight or obese, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Childhood obesity is on the rise. Nearly 20 percent of U.S. children are
obese. Three decades ago, that number was only about 7 percent.
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There is an epidemic of obesity in this country, health experts say. But what is obesity? How is it measured? Find out the answers to these questions and others by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
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We've all heard warnings, yet many of us keep gaining weight. More than half of American adults are overweight or obese, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Each overweight or obese American spends $700 more a year on medical bills than trim neighbors, one expert says.
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The not-so-secret secret to weight loss is to burn more calories than you eat. This can be done safely and effectively by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
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The struggle to develop good eating habits among toddlers, preschoolers and older children seems never-ending. But encouraging children to eat right doesn't require battle, just some common sense.
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Your diet needs Fats for energy, Proteins for body strength and Carbs for making your organs function efficiently. Strive for this balance.
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When you think of fat, you probably think of greasy things like salad dressing and butter. But there's fat in almost all foods.
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So, you watch what you eat -- but do you really pay attention?So, you watch what you eat -- but do you really pay attention?
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Whether you're trying to lose excess pounds or maintain a healthy weight, eating out in restaurants can sabotage your goals.
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You're as likely to keep children from eating fast food as you are to get them to stop playing computer games. Fast food is part of Americans' lifestyle.
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Research clearly shows that most diets don't work. Even those of us who lose weight on a diet generally regain most or all of the weight within a couple of years.
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At any given time, millions of people in the U.S. are trying to lose weight. They spend billions of dollars each year on weight-loss products and services. Learn more about diets and weight loss by taking this quiz.
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You need to consume some fat to maintain good nutrition, but many Americans eat more fat than they need.
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It's difficult to be satisfied with grilled squash if you've grown up eating fried chicken. Fortunately, there are ways to eat a healthy diet and still enjoy your favorite foods, nutrition experts say. The secret? Prepare the foods differently.
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You don't have to give up fast food to get your diet on the right track. You can make your meals-on-the-go healthier by ordering wisely.
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Exercise Plan
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Your target heart rate is the range at which sustained physical activity - running, cycling, swimming laps, or any other aerobic exercise - is considered safe and effective.
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The more active you are, the more calories you burn. Running or jogging, for instance, burns more calories than bowling. Carrying your clubs when golfing burns more calories than riding in a golf cart. Your weight also affects the number of calories burned: The more you weigh, the more calories you burn. Fill in your weight, and the calculator will provide you with an approximation of how many calories you will burn for the activities listed below. If you haven't been active or you're older than 50, be sure to check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
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You know it's important to stay active but still find yourself falling back on old habits. What can you do?
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Moderately intense activities, such as walking briskly from your parked car to the mall entrance and taking your dog for a quick jog after dinner, can help you achieve and maintain a healthful weight and improve your overall fitness level.
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"There are still many misconceptions that keep people from getting fit," says Kathie Davis, executive director and co-founder of IDEA.
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You've been out of shape before, but this time it's serious. You can't walk across a room without huffing and puffing.
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Reaching for your toes instead of the remote is one key to better health.Linda Buch doesn't believe people who say they have no time to work out.
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If you've tried a dozen diets but the pounds always sneak back, you can lose them for good by making strength-training an integral part of your weight-loss program.
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Make your workout work. From arm curls to three-way lunges, review these tips on correct exercise techniques.
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The teen years often bring a sharp drop in physical activity, especially for girls.
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One reason for passing up regular exercise may be that plenty of misconceptions about getting fit still exist.
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Obesity is the most common health problem facing children, child health experts say. More than 30 percent of children and teens are overweight, and 15 percent are obese.
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What happened? Not so long ago, when school was out and the weather was nice, kids were always outside, climbing trees, swinging or playing games.
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True or false? Most overweight people got that way because they're self-indulgent weaklings without the will power to say no to super-sized french fries and fudge-slathered ice cream.
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Experts say the long-term success at weight loss requires a balance between diet and physical activity.
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Most people consider losing weight a difficult proposition. Few folks have the time or interest to count calories or fat grams. Others have no patience for restrictive diets or complex dietary regimens.
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Research shows that if you are overweight or obese, a little weight loss goes a long way toward reducing your risk for disease and protecting your health.
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Out of the 90 million Americans who are overweight, 50 million go on a diet each year, according to the National Women's Health Resource Center.
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When you find yourself seeking out food to comfort you, you are eating in response to your emotions, rather than to hunger.
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High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart attack, the leading cause of death in America.
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A Swedish study, over 29 years, finds 33 percent more cases of cancer among obese people than in the general population.
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Your risk of heart disease increases if you're more than 30 percent overweight. Obesity raises cholesterol, blood pressure, and can lead to diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease. You can reduce your risk for heart disease by losing as few as 10 pounds if you are overweight.
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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common chronic adult illness in the United States. There is no cure for high blood pressure, but it can be controlled.
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Diabetes occurs when there are high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. All three types of diabetes involve problems with insulin, a hormone that removes glucose from the blood and allows it to enter the body's cells. (The cells use it for energy.) If your body is unable to make or use insulin properly, you have a high blood glucose level.
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The American Diabetes Association estimates at least 20.1 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means having a blood sugar level that is higher than normal, but not yet persistently high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. By taking steps to control your blood sugar, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.
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Until recently, type 2 diabetes was also known as adult-onset diabetes. Now, the adult-onset prefix has been dropped because so many children are developing the condition.
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Take this quiz to find out how to cut your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
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Extreme obesity plagues more than a million teens and young adults, experts estimate. What's a parent to do?
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