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Obesity can cause many health issues
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by Maya Hollinshead
Hands on Health
Program Assistant
Obesity has become a nationwide epidemic. For the last 20 years, the
number of people who are overweight and obese has increased. It
is also one of South Carolina’s biggest health problems. According to
the Centers for Disease Control, the 2008 obesity rate in South
Carolina was the sixth highest in the nation—35.2 percent of South
Carolina’s adults are overweight and another 30.1 percent are obese.
Overweight means that a person weighs more than they should for a given
height. Obesity is a condition where a person is so overweight that it
is unhealthy. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to get
certain diseases and have other health problems. Diseases and health
problems include:
- Reproduction/Sexuality
Problems, such as infertility
- Skin Problems such
as calluses
- Liver and
gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis (a
type of arthritis caused by cartilage breakdown)
There are
lifestyle habits known to prevent obesity. Exercise regularly. This is
one of the most important things to prevent weight gain. The U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services recommends getting at least
30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days of the week.
Eat healthy meals and snacks. It is best to eat a variety of
low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole
grains and to avoid sweets and alcohol and foods that have saturated
fat, such as pork, fatty beef and cheese made out of whole milk. It’s
better to eat multiple smaller meals rather than skipping meals.
Identify situations that can trigger out-of-control eating. Keeping a
food journal provides a way to monitor how you are eating. Be
consistent with a healthy weight plan, even during holidays and
vacations, and weigh yourself at least once a week.
If you are already overweight, there are things you can do to lose
weight.
Exercise and be physically active. Everyone should try to get at least
30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. But for significant
weight loss, you need 45 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise five days
per week. Set small goals at first, and then increase your workouts.
Increasing your normal daily activity will also boost your exercise
level. Get up and move around periodically and take the stairs instead
of the elevator.
Seek help to change the behaviors that lead to weight gain.
Counseling sessions with a trained mental health professional or
support groups like Weight Watchers can help change unhealthy behaviors
and thoughts.
Learn more about obesity and weight management at Hands on Health—South
Carolina (http://www.hohsc.org), the
award-winning consumer health site developed by the MUSC Library. To
get the basics, read the obesity article in the section South
Carolina’s Biggest Health Problems. To learn about nutrition, exercise
and weight management, select Find Out About and explore the links in
Staying Healthy.
For more information about Hands on Health and links to obesity and its
treatment, plan to drop by Wellness Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June 30 in the lobby of Ashley River Tower.
Worksite
screening
A worksite screening will be held June 24 at the MUSC Wellness Center.
The cost of the screening for those with state health insurance
coverage is $15. For all others, the cost is $42.
To see a sample report and what the screening covers, visit
http://ceii.muschealth.com/Health1st/Doc/WorksiteScreeningSampleReport.pdf.
Additional openings often become available the day before the
screening due to last minute cancellations. Registration is required.
Go to http://www.musc.edu/medcenter.health1st and click on
“worksite screening.”
E-mail health1st@musc.edu if you have any questions about the
screening.
Editor's
note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st.
Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee
wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column
seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful
information concerning all aspects of health.
Friday, June 18, 2010
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