Dietician

This morning i went to see the dietician Rebecca Hayes at Heacham Surgery, I really felt that there was nothing she could do and was clutching at straws.

She suggested
cutting down to
1 hot chocolate
1 weetabix

She said protein filled you up more than carbohydrates

She suggested eating more

Chicken
Vegetables and Salad
Drinking Fruit Teas

She said my calorie count was within the right range

She discussed exercise and suggested i try swimming. She also had doubts how useful the gym would be because of the pain.

I felt there was nothing new to be learned here, it seems i am not making any drastic blunders and she said nothing i didn't already know.

My next appointment is in a month.

My Weightloss Journey

Having had 4 children after each child I put on weight.  But trying to lose weight is so difficult and i try so hard, however, I do enjoy nice food and I enjoy baking, which makes it so much more difficult.

From the 1980's I have been in a constant battle with my food, I have tried Calorie Counting, Slimming World (which I didn't get on with), Weightwatchers which I did get on with, my biggest problem with it is it does not include exercise it would work better 45 mins on diet and 45 as an exercise class, the one that suits me best was Rosemary Conley, it incorporated diet and exercise, gave good support, but the local class was 15 miles away which became a bit of a problem fitting round the family, and I have heard even that has closed, I also tried the Atkins Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, F Plan, GI Diet.

One problem I discovered was during my pre menstrual time of the month I was addicted to chocolate, I just needed to eat chocolate, unfortunately it was several years before I noticed this pattern, otherwise I could have taken steps.

On the 5th January 2009 I weighed 18 stone,then on the 21st May 2009 I was prescribed the weightloss pill Orlistat (a brand name for Xenical) which I was on for about 5 months but I did not feel it was doing me much good and having to go to the doctors once a month was a bit of a bind.

After years trying I do find the weightwatchers regime suits me best, but after months of attending weightwatchers, I was gaining nothing new, spending £17 a month on the subscription and I just wasn't being inspired, I was learning nothing new, I found it expensive and achieved little in class.

In June 2010, I cancelled weightwatchers, and purchased a Wii fit, I loved my Wii fit, but seem to lack direction on my diet as well as support at home. 

As the pain in my knees increased, so did I slow down and find exercise more difficult and exceedingly painful so then it became so much harder to lose weight.

I am now back where I began and reverted to Calorie Counting, which you cannot go too far wrong with, I am good at dieting and do stick to the diet rigidly.

No matter what diet I am on I always start off fine and losing, then reach a plateau and after several weeks gradually lose interest, then give up and then gradually the weight goes on once again. 
And the circle starts again, yo-yo dieting cannot be good for your physical and mental wellbeing.

I detest the term Diet I prefer Healthy Lifestyle, you have to change the way you think and eat food permanently or the weight will pile back on, the term diet indicates that it will end at some point. I don’t believe in diets which exclude any food groups because a healthy balanced diet needs all food groups.

Things I know are my problem areas are:-

·         I do not eat enough Fruit and Veg

·          I do not drink enough water

·          My husband and I eat totally differently, now there is just the 2 of us, buying and preparing seperate foods is expensive and time consuming

·         Having no freezer is a problem

·         Not enough exercise (because of  the knee pain)

·         Lack of Family Support

30 Super Foods

1. Almonds (Prunus Dulcis)
2. Apricot
3. Avocado
4. Blueberries
5. Broccoli
6. (Cooked) tomatoes
7. Coriander
8. Dulse (Palmaria)
9. Eggplant (Solanum Melongena)
10. (Extra virgin) olive oil
11. Flaxseeds ( Linum usitatissimum)
12. Flaxseed oil
13. Garden Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)
14. Garlic
15. Ginger
16. Oranges
17. Organic green tea
18. Pomegranates
19. Pumpkin seed
20. Raspberries
21. Rosemary
22. Shitake mushroom
23. Soybeans
24. Soy sauce (non GMO)
25. Spinach
26. Sunflower Seeds
27. Uncontaminated Fish Oil
28. Walnuts (Juglans)
29. Watermelon
30. Wolf berry

Obesity and 40 related diseases

Obesity is defined as a medical condition of excess body fat has accumulated overtime, while overweight is a condition of excess body weight relatively to the height. According to the Body Mass Index(BMI), a BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered over weight, while a BMI of over 30 is an indication of obesity. According to the statistic, 68% of American population are either overweight or obese.

• Obesity and Artheroclerosis
• Obesity and Asthma
• Obesity and Breast Cancer
• Obesity and Cellutitis
• Obesity and Chronic Venus Insufficiency
• Obesity and Colon Cancer
• Obesity and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Obesity and Dementia
• Obesity and Depression
• Obesity and Gatroesophageal Reflux Disease (Heart Burn)
• Obesity and Hyperlipidemia ( High Levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides)
• Obesity and Hypertension
• Obesity and Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)
• Obesity and Increased Uric Acid
• Obesity and Infertility
• Obesity and Inguinal Hernia
• Obesity and Insulin Resistance
• Obesity and Low Back Pain
• Obesity and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
• Obesity and Osteoarthritis
• Obesity and Pancreatitis
• Obesity and Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Obesity and Poor Healing of Wounds
• Obesity and Prostate Cancer
• Obesity and Pulmonary Hypertension
• Obesity and Renal Disease
• Obesity and Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Obesity and Skin Diseases
• Obesity and Sleep Disorder
• Obesity and Stroke
• Obesity and Type II Diabetes
• Obesity and Urinary Incontinence

Obesity and Weight Loss

What researchers advise

1. Obesity, growth hormone and weight loss
2. Low-Dose Growth Hormone Treatment With Diet Restriction Accelerates Body Fat Loss
3. Obesity and Korean Red Ginseng Extract
4. Weight Loss and Carbohydrate-Restricted Diets High in Either Monounsaturated Fat or Protein
5. Weight Loss and Efficacy and Safety of Low-Fat Diets
6. Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets
7. Weight Loss and Aminotransferase Levels
8. Weight Loss and Whey Protein
9. Obesity and Short Term Fasting
10. Weight Loss - Dietary Protein and Exercise
11. Weight Loss and Moderate-Protein Diet
12. Weight Loss and Efficacy and Safety of Low-Fat Diets
13. Weight loss and High protein diet with Resistance Exercise Training
14. High-protein, Low fat or High-carbohydrate diet
15. Very-low-carbohydrate diet vs High-carbohydrate diet In Renal Function
16. Green Tea, High Protein Diet and Weight Maintenance (WM) After Body Weight Loss
17. Low-fat diets for obesity
18. Diet for improving Glucose and Lipid profiles in Diabestes
19. Monounsaturated fatty acid-enriched hypocaloric diet and Diabetes
20. Monounsaturated fatty acids and obese NIDDM patients
21. Monounsaturated fatty acid-enriched hypocaloric diet and Diabetes
22. Trans monounsaturated fatty acids or saturated fatty acids in obese patients with NIDDM
23. Dietary carbohydrate and fat and diabetes
24. Green tea extract thermogenesis-induced Weight loss
25. Green tea on weight maintenance
26. The ketogenic diet as a treatment option in adults with chronic refractory epilepsy
27. Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet
28. Low-carbohydrate versus conventional weight loss diets in severely obese adults
29. Electronic Tools to Assist with Identification and Counseling for Overweight Patients
30. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of bariatric (weight loss) surgery for obesity
31. Weight loss and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
32. Human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction
33. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and treatment of obesity
34. Effect of weight reduction on cardiovascular risk factors
35. Low-dose hCG administration enhance preganacy with hypothalamic amenorrhea due to weight loss
36. The prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity
37. Risk-benefit analysis of a hCG-500 kcal reducing diet
38. Conjugated linoleic acid and Body fat mass
39.Conjugated linoleic acid and Weight Loss
40. Conjugated linoleic acid and Obesity control
41.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and Body fat accumulation
42. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on Weight loss and Body fat composition
43.Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid for 24 months and Body fat mass in healthy, Overweight humans
44.Weight loss improves renal hemodynamics
45.Weight Loss and Very Low Calorie Diet
46. Endurance training per se increases metabolic health
47. Short-term lifestyle intervention in the insulin sensitive phenotype of obesity
48. Long-term effects of an inpatient weight-loss program
49. Are standard behavioral weight loss programs effective for young adults
50. Partner weight status and subject weight loss
51.Weight changes in a couples program
52.Long-term follow-up of weight status of subjects in a behavioral weight control program
51. Identifying predictive variables for long-term weight change after participation in a weight loss program
52. The ketogenic diet: an underappreciated therapeutic option
53.Low-carbohydrate nutrition and metabolism
54.Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: hoax or an effective tool for weight loss?
55. Spanish Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet
56. Spanish Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet on nonalcoholic
57. Should dosing of rocuronium in obese patients be based on ideal or corrected body weight?
58. Body weight and beauty: the changing face of the ideal female body weight
59. No longer just a pretty face: fashion magazines' depictions of ideal female beauty from 1959 to 1999
60.The obesity paradox in chronic disease: facts and numbers
61. Eat, Play, Love: Adolescent and Parent Perceptions of the Components of a Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program
61. Changes in Dermal Histomorphology Following Surgical Weight Loss Versus Diet-Induced Weight Loss in the Morbidly Obese Patient
62. Gestational weight loss has adverse effects on placental development
63. Intentional weight loss and dose reductions of anti-diabetic medications
64. Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Intentional Weight Loss
65. The risk of postpartum hemorrhage in women using high dose of low-molecular-weight heparins during pregnancy
66. The effects of green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance: a meta-analysis
67. Body weight loss and weight maintenance in relation to habitual caffeine intake and green tea supplementation
68. Additional protein intake limits weight regain after weight loss
69. Models for dietary and weight change in African-American women
70. Weight loss goals among African-American women with type 2 diabetes
71. Fast Weight Loss Lunch Recipes
72. Steps to soulful living (steps): a weight loss program for African-American women
73. Green tea catechin plus caffeine supplementation to a high-protein diet has no additional effect on body weight maintenance after weight loss
74. Weight loss maintenance in African-American women
75. Descriptive Study of Educated African American Women Successful at Weight-Loss Maintenance
76. The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations
77. Comparison of ideal body weight equations and published height-weight tables with body mass index tables
78. Cigarette smoking on the association between body weight and mortality
79. An overview of body weight of older persons
80. A new formulafor estimating ideal body weight
81. The Effects of an Energy Density Prescription on Diet Quality and Weight Loss
82. Improvements in body fat distribution and circulating adiponectin
83. WITHDRAWN: Advice on low-fat diets for obesity
84. Long-term effects of 2 energy-restricted diets
85. Intermittent versus daily calorie restriction
86. Weight Loss and Increased meal frequency
87. The role of dietary fat in body fatness
88. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets
89. Insulin resistance and glucose tolerance of 6-mo high-monounsaturated-fat, low-fat, and control diets
90. The optimal diet- Dietary treatment of the metabolic syndrome
91. Diet, insulin resistance, and obesity: data for Atkins dieters
92. Sibutramine and Weight loss
93. Weight loss favorably modifies anthropometrics and reverses the metabolic syndrome
94. Greater weight loss and hormonal changes after 6 months diet with carbohydrates eaten mostly at dinner
95. Effects of Adding Exercise to a 16-Week Very Low-Calorie Diet in Obese, Insulin-Dependent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
96. Use of Orlistat 60 mg in the Management of Weight Loss Before Bariatric Surgery
97. Reduced-Calorie Dietary Weight Loss, Exercise, and Sex Hormones in Postmenopausal Women
98. Increased consumption of dairy foods and protein during diet- and exercise-induced weight loss
99. The role of diet and exercise for the maintenance of fat-free mass and resting metabolic rate
100. Weight lifting for women at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema
101. Effects of the DASH diet alone and in combination with exercise and weight loss on blood pressure and cardiovascular biomarkers
102. Greater weight loss and hormonal changes after 6 months diet with carbohydrates eaten mostly at dinner
103. Dietary guidelines and the results of food consumption surveys
104. Obesity and Weight Loss - Fruit and vegetable intake in young children
105. Children's growth parameters vary by type of fruit juice consumed
106. Association between 100% juice consumption and nutrient intake and weight of children aged 2 to 11 years
107. Beverage intake among preschool children and its effect on weight status
108. Simple obesity in children. A study on the role of nutritional factors
109. Dietary tea catechins increase fecal energy
110. Impact of water intake on energy intake and weight status
111. Drinking water is associated with weight loss in overweight dieting women
112. Beverage consumption and adult weight management
113. A green tea extract high in catechins reduces body fat and cardiovascular risks in humans
114. Low glycaemic index or low glycaemic load diets for overweight and obesity
115. Psychological interventions for overweight or obesity
116. WITHDRAWN: Advice on low-fat diets for obesity
117. Effectiveness of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais
118.The effects of green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance
119. Body weight loss and weight maintenance in relation to habitual caffeine intake and green tea supplementation
120. Green tea catechins, caffeine and body-weight regulation
121. Employment, work hours and weight gain among middle-aged women
122. Health-related quality of life and weight loss practices among overweight and obese US adults
123. Methods for voluntary weight loss and control
124. Diet and physical activity behaviors among Americans trying to lose weight
125. Physical activity advertisements that feature daily well-being improve autonomy and body image
126. Physical activity, protein intake, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass in older men
127. Relationship between antioxidant intakes and class I sarcopenia
128. Sarcopenic obesity in the elderly and strategies for weight management
129. Exercise but not diet-induced weight loss decreases skeletal muscle inflammatory gene expression
130. Sugar-sweetened beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes
131. Alternative Medicine for Weight Loss Among Mexican-American Women
132. Dietary intervention and vasomotor symptoms
133. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes
134. Replacing caloric beverages with water or diet beverages for weight loss
135. Reduction in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight loss
136. Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain
137. Family support and weight-loss
138. Shared risk and protective factors for overweight and disordered eating
139. Family meals and disordered eating
140. Obesity, disordered eating, and eating disorders
141. Dieting status and its relationship to eating and physical activity behaviors
142. Screening and Interventions for Childhood Overweight
143. Weight loss, exercise, or both and physical function in obese older adults
144. Right Diet: to combat obesity
145. Green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss
146. Hypocaloric dietary intervention implemented in a school of obese children
147. Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance
148. The Mediterranean diet: is it cardioprotective?
149. Heart healthy diet and myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism
150. Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and level of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)
151. CV health starts with good nutrition
152. Weight Loss and Yoga
153. Behaviour modification and eating behaviour in adolescent
154. Multi-modal exercise programs for older adults
155. Silver yoga exercises improved physical fitness of transitional frail elders
156. Walking to health
157. Yoga and Physical fitness
158. Diets higher in dairy foods and dietary protein and weight loss in overweight and obese premenopausal women
159. Caloric restriction and body composition in overweight and obese premenopausal women
160. Effects of higher- versus lower-protein diets on health outcomes
161. Food restriction alters villi morphology in obese rats
162. Leptin reduces food intake but does not alter weight regain
163. Oat-derived beta-glucan in overweight individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia
164. Green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance
165. Green tea catechin plus caffeine supplementation and body weight maintenance after weight loss
166. Body weight loss and weight maintenance and caffeine intake and green tea supplementation
167. The effects of catechin rich teas and caffeine on energy expenditure and fat oxidation
168. Weight loss without losing muscle mass
169. The Effect of meal replacement on metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese subjects

Perfect Diet Tracker

On doing some research for a decent diet tracker i come across this link

http://www.perfect-diet-tracker.com/

You download it on your computer which makes it faster and more efficient 

to use that the usual web based ones.

It is simple and straightforward, you can add your own foods, meals and recipes. 

If the food is not in its database you can enable a web search for it.

There is a FREE 7 day trial then there is a one off charge of £13.64, which

is not bad with no monthly subscription like usual.

It has a good efficient print option unlike web based trackers. 

Doctors.......Waste of time

Well today i saw Dr Lake again, and as i predicted it was a complete waste of time.
He had the results of the X Ray and confirmed Moderate Arthritis in Right Knee, Left Knee not quite so bad Minor to Moderate Arthritis, NO Arthritis in Hips and Back.  Which is as i expected, however, if it is only moderate and if it isthis pain ful and immobilising, what will it be like if it is severe.

However, most of the discussion centred around my weight and he said they couldn't do anything until i lost weight, he explored my history of weight loss and diet.  And said he would refer me to a dietician and to the Gym, well hopeless, but we will see.

He prescribed me
Co Codamol (30mg/500mg)
Naproxen 500mg

He said there was no point in him seeing me again, as he would get reports, so i have to ration my medication i guess.


Naproxen (naprosyn)¹ is one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)² used to treat certain types of arthritis. Naproxen tablets were approved by the FDA in 1976. On January 11, 1994, the FDA approved naproxen in a nonprescription form.

What is the availability of naproxen?

Naproxen is currently available as an over-the-counter drug by either its generic name or by several brand names. Prescription-strength naproxen comes as a regular tablet, enteric-coated tablet, extended-release tablet, and as a liquid suspension to take orally.
The usual dose of naproxen is 250 mg, 375 mg, or 500 mg -- twice a day in the morning and evening for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Enteric-coated naproxen is usually taken in doses of 375 or 500 mg twice a day. Your doctor can adjust your dose based on how you are responding to the drug.

When is naproxen prescribed?

Naproxen is prescribed to relieve signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis³ and rheumatoid arthritis⁴. It is primarily used to reduce inflammation⁵, stiffness, and pain.

Are there any special instructions regarding how to take naproxen?

Many doctors instruct patients to take naproxen with food. Some resources say that naproxen can be taken with or without food. Other resources suggest taking it with a full glass of water. To prevent stomach upset, you can take it with food or milk. If stomach upset occurs, consult your doctor. He may recommend that you take an antacid.

Are there patients who should not take naproxen?

Patients who had episodes of asthma, rhinitis, or nasal polyps after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs should not take naproxen. Aspirin-sensitive patients should not take naproxen.
Be sure your doctor knows about any previous drug reactions. Patients who have had ulcers, stomach bleeding, severe kidney problems, or severe liver problems may not be candidates for treatment with naproxen.

What common side effects can occur with naproxen?

Diarrhea, constipation, gas, mouth sores, headache, dizziness, thirst, lightheadedness, drowsiness, tingling in arms and legs, cold symptoms, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, and trouble falling or staying asleep are all possible side effects associated with naproxen.

What special warnings and precautions are associated with naproxen?

Problems with stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding can occur with any NSAID, and naproxen is no exception. Typically, these problems are tied to long-term use of the drug but not always -- short-term use of naproxen or other NSAIDs can be problematic for some patients. Stomach ulcers and bleeding can occur without warning. Some people do get signs and warnings by experiencing burning stomach pain, black stools, or vomiting. Call your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Liver damage can occur in people taking NSAIDs like naproxen. Warning signs include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, appetite loss, itching, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and dark urine.
Naproxen can cause fluid retention and swelling in the body. NSAIDs like naproxen have also been linked to increased blood pressure.
NSAIDs, including naproxen, are associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and new onset or worsening of pre-existing hypertension⁶ (high blood pressure). The cardiovascular risk may be increased with duration of use of naproxen or other NSAIDs or pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors or disease.

Are there drug interactions associated with naproxen?

Naproxen can have serious adverse reactions with certain drugs. Drugs which can cause interactions include:

• Aspirin⁷
• ACE inhibitors
• Blood-thinning medications
• Furosemide
• Lithium
• Methotrexate⁸

"what contributes to overweight and obesity?"

Is there a quick answer to the question, "what contributes to overweight and obesity?"
Overall there are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity. This makes it a complex health issue to address. This section will address how behavior, environment, and genetic factors may have an effect in causing people to be overweight and obese.

The Caloric Balance Equation

• Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. This involves eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.
• Body weight is the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status.
• Behavior and environment play a large role causing people to be overweight and obese. These are the greatest areas for prevention and treatment actions.

Adapted from U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001

When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight for a lifetime, the bottom line is – calories count! Weight management is all about balance – balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses or "burns off."

• A calorie is defined as a unit of energy supplied by food. A calorie is a calorie regardless of its source. Whether you're eating carbohydrates, fats, sugars, or proteins, all of them contain calories.
• Caloric balance is like a scale. To remain in balance and maintain your body weight, the calories consumed (from foods) must be balanced by the calories used (in normal body functions, daily activities, and exercise).

If you are…	Your caloric balance status is ….
Maintaining your weight	"in balance." You are eating roughly the same number of calories that your body is using. Your weight will remain stable.
Gaining weight	"in caloric excess." You are eating more calories than your body is using. You will store these extra calories as fat and you'll gain weight.
Losing weight	"in caloric deficit." You are eating fewer calories than you are using. Your body is pulling from its fat storage cells for energy, so your weight is decreasing.

Genetics and the environment may increase the risk of personal weight gain. However, the choices a person makes in eating and physical activity also contributes to overweight and obesity.
For more, see Healthy Weight – Balancing Calories.

Environment

People may make decisions based on their environment or community. For example, a person may choose not to walk to the store or to work because of a lack of sidewalks. Communities, homes, and workplaces can all influence people's health decisions. Because of this influence, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity and to eat a healthy diet. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity 2001 identified action steps for several locations that may help prevent and decrease obesity and overweight. The following table provides some examples of these steps.

Location	Steps to Help Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Home	Reduce time spent watching television and in other sedentary behaviors Build physical activity into regular routines
Schools	Ensure that the school breakfast and lunch programs meet nutrition standards Provide food options that are low in fat, calories, and added sugars Provide all children, from prekindergarten through grade 12, with quality daily physical education
Work	Create more opportunities for physical activity at work sites
Community	Promote healthier choices including at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and reasonable portion sizes Encourage the food industry to provide reasonable food and beverage portion sizes Encourage food outlets to increase the availability of low-calorie, nutritious food items Create opportunities for physical activity in communities

Genetics

The Population

"Despite obesity having strong genetic determinants, the genetic composition of the population does not change rapidly. Therefore, the large increase in . . . [obesity] must reflect major changes in non-genetic factors."
Hill, James O., and Trowbridge, Frederick L. Childhood obesity: future directions and research priorities. Pediatrics. 1998; Supplement: 571.

How do genes affect obesity?
Science shows that genetics plays a role in obesity. Genes can directly cause obesity in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

However genes do not always predict future health. Genes and behavior may both be needed for a person to be overweight. In some cases multiple genes may increase one's susceptibility for obesity and require outside factors; such as abundant food supply or little physical activity.

Defining Overweight and Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Definitions for Adults

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

• An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
• An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

Height	Weight Range	BMI	Considered
5' 9"	124 lbs or less	Below 18.5	Underweight
	125 lbs to 168 lbs	18.5 to 24.9	Healthy weight
	169 lbs to 202 lbs	25.0 to 29.9	Overweight
	203 lbs or more	30 or higher	Obese

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit Body Mass Index.
Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).