If you realized you were traveling down a one-way road in the wrong direction and sometime in the next 10 to 30 minutes you were going to meet a truck head-on, what would you do?
According to the Office of the Surgeon General, as weight increases, so does the risk for death, especially in adults age 30 to 64. Just 10 to 20 extra pounds increases the risk of dying from heart disease and developing diabetes. Women who gain more than 20 pounds after age 18 double their risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Plus, “for every two-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by nine percent to 13 percent.”
In contrast, arthritis symptoms improve with weight loss. Sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, incontinence and many other medical conditions can be caused by putting on extra weight during the adult years.
Losing excess weight or avoiding additional weight gain in adults requires a combination of exercise, calorie reduction and behavioral changes, including a regular exercise routine that can be woven into your weekly routine.
It is not easy, but it’s important.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says, “losing just 5 to 7 percent of current body weight can prevent or improve chronic health conditions related to obesity.”
So before the negative momentum of holiday weight gain begins, why not consider taking steps to adjust your lifestyle and get physically fit? There are numerous benefits that will follow.
We develop individual workout programs combined with a healthy eating road map that can get you turned around and heading in the right direction. Small group sessions are also available for those interested in sharing the investment in your health. So call a friend and then call me.