Successfully added to your cart!
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the CDC, approximately 40% of adults in the USA suffer from obesity, and this number has been on the rise over the last several decades. According to a recent study, obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in the USA.
When you put numbers to that, we are talking about over 70 million Americans – and another 99 million who are overweight, possibly on the path to becoming obese. Over $100 billion is spent each year on healthcare for obesity-related health conditions.
This is, by far, one of the most significant factors in American health today.
Most people are aware that obesity significantly increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes, but there are many other risk factors associated with excess weight – including a weakened immune system.
And no, we are not trying to body shame anyone who is curvier or rounder than the social norm on Instagram – you can look attractive regardless of your body shape. At BodyHealth, our goal is to help you feel and look your best, be in excellent health, and have the freedom to live your life to the fullest, and that means speaking some hard truths on occasion.
[1,2]
According to the CDC, there are several classifications of weight based on your body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by comparing your height and your weight, and it breaks down into the following categories:
BMI |
Weight Status |
Below 18.5 |
Underweight |
Between 18.5 and 24.9 |
Normal |
Between 25.0 and 29.9 |
Overweight |
Between 30.0 and 39.9 |
Obese |
40.0 and above |
Extremely obese |
To calculate your BMI, you can use the adult BMI calculator or the child BMI calculator offered by the CDC – which will give you an immediate idea of where you stand.
Of course, you must take the idea of BMI with a grain of salt. Athletes and gym junkies tend to weigh more than a “normal” weight but are extremely healthy – so you cannot take BMI from an online calculator at face value.
[3]
Obesity impacts almost every aspect of your health. It places your body in a state of chronic inflammation and significantly increases your risk of developing many life-altering and deadly diseases.
According to Gökhan Hotamisligil, the chairman of the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, obesity is essentially an inflammatory disease. In a recent publication, he stated:
“You’re activating the immune system without a legitimate pathogen. You’re constantly activating your immune system at a low level in such a way that it releases chemicals that start contributing to inflammation.”
Chronic inflammation is itself a precursor to severe physiological and neurodegenerative disorders.
[4,5]
Excess fat cells stored throughout your body require added blood flow and increased circulation, which puts extra stress on your heart and leads to high blood pressure – the leading cause of stroke in the USA. It is also linked to high LDL (bad cholesterol), which results in plaque buildup in your arteries, restricting blood flow and dramatically raising your risk for a heart attack.
Obesity is also a leading cause of diabetes, as it greatly increases the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hormones, glycerol, fatty acids, and other substances that are known to trigger insulin resistance. Excess fat in your abdominal area is a particularly high-risk form of obesity.
Statistically speaking, men and women who suffer from obesity are up to 80 times more likely to develop type II diabetes.
[6,7]
According to the CDC and other leading research groups, those who suffer from obesity are significantly more likely to experience or contract one or more of the following life-threatening conditions:
Sadly, many of these conditions are becoming increasingly common among younger people as obesity rates rise in our youth.
[8,9]
Now, you might be reading this and think, “well, I might have a few extra pounds, but I’m not obese, so these risks don’t apply to me.” While there is some truth to this, research has revealed that being even 10 pounds overweight can significantly impact your health and raise your risk of developing various health conditions.
In fact, studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between an increase in BMI and an increase in health risks. According to a study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine that evaluated over 150,000 individuals, some astonishing risk factors were identified. Women with a BMI between 22 and 24.9 (which is still in the normal range) have DOUBLE the risk of diabetes compared to women with a BMI of between 18.5 and 21.9. These same BMI levels come with a 40% increased risk for high blood pressure and a 30% increased risk of high cholesterol and colon cancer.
Again, BMI is not the only index that matters – athletes and people in excellent shape can have a “high BMI” as the result of high muscle density and muscle mass. If you are not an athlete and you have some extra pounds, you are likely very aware of it and are trying to do something about it.
[10]
Losing weight is not always easy.
It can be a serious challenge to drop the excess fat and get your body into shape. There are hundreds of popular diets that all claim to work miracles, but the truth is that every person is unique – and what works for one may not work for another.
That being said, there are two factors that apply to everyone, and that can help you lose weight and stay healthy:
There are also many advanced nutritional products available that help to support your body’s natural metabolism of fat, such as Healthy-Thin Energize from BodyHealth. You may also benefit from our Optimum Weight Management Program, which is designed to help you sustainably lose up to 20 pounds within 23 days.
Whatever you do, every effort you make toward achieving a healthy, normal weight for your body supports your health – it is not just a point of vanity!
So-called “energy drinks” litter the shelves in health food stores and grocery stores. Each brand promises to deliver the energy boost you need for workouts or just to make it through the day.
The sad truth is that most commercial drinks and drink powders come with a steep price to your health.
Most of the popular brands contain stimulants such as caffeine and high levels of sugar. They make you feel jittery and wired, with a crash that comes soon after.
If you wake up feeling tired and groggy, suffer from an afternoon crash, or simply live with a general feeling of lethargy – you are not alone.
According to statista.com:
Another survey found that 60% of Americans feel more tired over the last 12 months than ever before, especially with the huge socioeconomic shift that has so many people now working from home.
If there is anything society has come to realize over the last century, it is that women are just as powerful, smart, ambitious, and capable as men. And while society as a whole is still catching up as far as true equality, the facts are evident when you look at some of the most incredible and influential people today.
When it comes to fitness, however, men and women are not the same. The natural, physiological differences necessitate unique approaches to achieve optimal results. While the fundamental science behind attaining a shredded, lean physique is basically the same for both sexes, the exact steps and application require careful consideration.