THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING OVERWEIGHT
In scientific terms, the body shape or weight alone, cannot be isolated as it is the relationship of body weight to body height that is important. This can be expressed as your ' 'Body Mass Index'' and also in a graph illustrating your weight-for-height.
If you fall in the obese range of the graph you may be subject to the following medical risks:
1. High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease;
2. Diabetes;
3. Respiratory problems;
4. Gall stones;
5. Complicated pregnancies;
6. Arthritis;
7. Cancer of the breast, uterus, gall bladder and bowel. The oestrogen sensitive tumours of the breast and uterus are increased because obese women produce excessive oestrogen;
8. Hormonal and gynaecological disorders such as fibroids and heavy painful periods. Obesity will cause a woman to make more oestrogen in her fatty tissues and this stimulates the growth of fibroids, and may worsen endometriosis ctnd increase menstrual blood flow and pain. As women get fatter their level of the male hormone testosterone increases which increases the tendency to facial hair, greasy skin and acne. Weight loss will improve these gynaecological and skin problems.
9. Sleep apnoea which is the medical term for failure to breathe during sleep. This affects the hypothalamus and reduces oxygen supply to the cells which reduces the metabolic rate and makes it much harder for you to lose weight. Sleep apnoea in obese persons can have severe effects causing a reduction in testosterone production in males and a big reduction in the amount of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland. These effects may increase the rate at which the body ages;
10. A shorter life span and higher risk of sudden death.
If you fall into the overweight range on the graph, you will also be subject to the above ten medical risks but with less susceptibility than those in the obese range.
If you fall into the very underweight range on the graph, you
should try to gain weight by increasing your consumption of calories and protein foods to increase fat and muscle tissues. Try to eat more bread, cereals, grains, nuts, wholemeal cakes, honey, full fat dairy products, eggs, chicken, seafoods and lean meats.
If you remain very underweight, you will be at an increased risk of the following disorders:
1. Low levels of oestrogen with an associated higher risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease;
2. Reduced fertility;
3. Complicated pregnancies.
By understanding your weight-for-height ratio, your body type and the factors that determine your metabolic rate, you are now in a powerful position to change the things that prevent you from achieving the healthy weight range depicted on our graph.
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