The Adult Obesity Definition and the Truth

The obesity definition usually changes as medical technology advances.

It use to be defined as: A 20% or more weight over ideal body weight.

However, today we usethe body mass index or BMI to determine if a person is obese.

The BMI is the individual's body weight in kilograms divided by the square of the body's height in meters.

Don't worry if you don't want to do the math.

Just use our bmi calculator to find your bmi score and to determine what category you will fall into.

Using the BMI scale, the clinical definition is a body mass index score of 30 or higher.

For example: If you weigh 220 pounds and stand 6'0" tall then your BMI would equal 30.

You would be considered clinically obese.

So, how does a person become obese?

Obesity results when a person consumes more energy (calories) then that person is expending (burning off).

As this continues to happen on a regular basis, the person's body will begin to store these extra calories as fat.

Of course, the body has the ability to burn off these calories as energy throughout the day, as long as the person is using more energy than they consume.

If the energy is not burned off then it will be stored as fat.

How does the body "burn off" this energy?

Well, this is where the metabolism comes in.

Everyone of us has our own metabolic rate.

This is the rate at which energy (calories) is used or burned off within our body.

People who exercise alot or work in strenuous jobs will posses a ver high metabolic rate.

They will require alot of calories and will burn them off very easily.

This is why the healthcare industry tells everyone that the more you eat the more you will need to exercise.

However, excess calories is only one part of the equation.

Fat, adipose tissue, is created and stored by the body in more ways than just excess calories.

Fat is also created through the ingestion of carbohydrates that is broken down into glucose in order for the body to create energy. All excess glucose that is not used as energy is stored as fat.

Fat is also created through the ingestion of protein that is broken down and used by the body to build muscle tissue.

All excess protein that is not used by the body is broken down to triglycerides and stored by the body as fat.

So, as you can see, the adult obesity definition becomes extremely important in identifying the people who need treatment for obesity.

No matter what adult obesity definition you use, if you suffer with a weight issue, now is the time to do something about it.

Everyone knows that if you don't start now you probably never will.

So, what can you do to start losing weight right now?

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

Whether you use the old obesity definition od the new adult obesity definition does not matter.

What does matter is that you start losing weight and becoming healthier right now.

Do it for your family, your friends, your children.

Do it for yourself.

So, please follow the steps above to begin your journey of overcoming obesity starting today.

It's the healthy thing to do.

Return to Using the Definition of Obesity to Determine Your Status from The Adult Obesity Definition and the Truth

Return to Begin Your Journey of Overcoming Obesity from The Adult Obesity Definition and the Truth