Obesity and Weight Control Senior Health-Bauberger

Why you eat… We eat for several reasons: –Meet nutritional needs, satisfy appetite, supply body with energy Hunger –A feeling of physical discomfort that is caused by the body’s need for nutrients Appetite –A desire for food that is based on emotional factors rather than nutritional need

Nutritional needs… Basal Metabolic Rate: –The rate at which you use energy when your body is at rest –The higher your BMR, the more calories you burn –Younger people and people with more muscle mass tend to have higher BMR –The more active you are, the more calories you need

What foods you choose… Many factors affect what foods you choose: –Personal preferences –Cultural background –Time and convenience –Friends –The media

Weight Weight is determined by many factors: –Heredity Natural tendency towards a certain weight –Level of activity The more active you are, the more calories you burn –Body composition A measure of how much body fat you have as compared to muscle and bone (also affected by gender and age…)

Weight In 1965, 4.6% of teens were overweight In 1980, 5.0% of teens were overweight Today, 16.1% of teens are overweight The number of calories consumed per day by the average person has increased from about 2,950 to about 3,450 in the last 50 years.

Overweight vs Obesity Overweight: –A person who is heavier than the standard for the person’s height Obesity: –A person with a BMI of 30 or higher (body mass index) These terms are NOT interchangeable

A Growing Epidemic More calories are being consumed today because: –Grocery stores offer more choices including prepared foods –More meals are eaten outside the home –Portion sizes have increased Less calories are being burned because: –People in general are less active –People rely more on technology (cars, computers, etc)

Obesity Stats Between 1962 and the year 2000, the number of obese Americans grew from 13% to an alarming 31% of the population. 63% of Americans are overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) in excess of % are obese with a BMI in excess of Childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled in the past two decades. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year.

Health Risks Overweight people develop health problems: –High Blood Pressure –High Cholesterol –Type 2 Diabetes (excess glucose in the blood) –Heart Disease –Stroke –Cancers

Prevention It is easier to prevent weight gain than it is to take off excess pounds Healthy eating and regular exercise can avoid it altogether Changing habits at a younger age can be easier than as an adult

Underweight Underweight: –A person who is lighter than the standard for their height Health Risks: –Being underweight can lead to anemia, heart irregularities, and trouble regulating body temperature

Weight Management Should involve avoiding dangerous diet plans, choosing nutritionally balanced meals and snacks, and getting regular exercise Weight loss requires planning and patience –Recognize eating patterns –Plan strategies over time –Exercise

Maintaining Healthy Weight Avoid snacks right before mealtimes Do not skip meals, especially breakfast Use portion control Eat food slowly and not while reading or watching tv Recognize WHY you are eating

Weight Management To gain weight: –Take in more calories than you burn daily To lose weight: –Take in less calories than you burn daily To maintain weight: –Take in the same amount of calories you burn

Maintaining weight> Gaining weight> Losing weight> Calories out Calories in Calories out