Weight Loss Equals Good Health

We are living through an obesity epidemic and weight has become a significant personal and public health issue. Each of us needs to ensure that we don’t become a victim, because ill health will be our reward. Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory conditions and back pain are just the beginning. Who willingly inflicts these on themselves?

The good news is that we can all do something about our weight, no matter how many times we have failed in the past. First of all, find out if you are overweight or obese with this simple BMI (body mass index) test: take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height in inches squared. Or, if you prefer, take your weight in kilograms and divide it by your height in metres squared.

Now you have a figure. If that figure is below 18, you are underweight; from 18 to 25, means you have a normal weight; from 25 to 30 indicates you are overweight; and above 30 means you are obese. In which range do you fall?

Good diet and regular exercise are the key

The cornerstone of success with weight loss it diet and exercise. While we struggle with diets, evidence supports high carbohydrate/low fat or high protein/low carbohydrate diets. As for exercise, 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise daily is considered the minimum. Again, what have you found? Weight loss is considered a success if you lose from 6 to 11 pounds (3 to 5 kgs), or 5 to 7 percent of your body mass for a year or more.