Change Your Behavior, Control Your Weight

Abstract

If you're or obese, you're not alone. In the U.S., so many people exceed a healthy weight that obesity is considered an epidemic. Indeed, about one out of every three U.S. women is obese. Although many women worry about weight because of appearance, many also recognize excess weight as a health problem. Overweight or women are more likely to develop life-threatening diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and they may have problems with pregnancy. Fortunately, losing even a small amount of weight is beneficial to your health. Are You Overweight? Obese? The term overweight means weighing more than set standards for height. The extra weight may be from muscle, bone, fat, and/or water. (Note: Because muscle weighs more than fat, muscular athletes may weigh more than their less-conditioned friends.) The term obese means having an abnormally high amount of body fat. Most women and all women will be healthier if they lose weight. Your body mass index (BMI) is a measure of your weight relative to your height, and it can be used to determine whether …