I bet you’ve been waiting for this discussion: the one about the weight. Of course, I will get into this because most Americans are overweight, with 30% of those people qualifying as obese. Most people carry too much weight around, and that puts an immense strain on your heart, your other internal organs, your ability to exercise, even your ability to feel comfortable sitting in a chair. 

It also puts you at risk for many other health problems, including:

• Diabetes

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Many other risk factors for heart disease 

Get too overweight, get diabetes, then get heart disease. It doesn’t matter what order you pile on the risk factors due to body fat. They all end in the same place. 

Abdominal Obesity, in Particular, is Risky 

The fat on your belly behaves differently than fat in other parts of your body. Fat on your belly triggers the release of a slew of hormones and chemicals associated with heart disease. Excess abdominal fat has been linked to higher LDL cholesterol, higher triglycerides, pre-diabetes, and inflammation. So look at yourself in the mirror. Where do you carry your excess weight? 

I’m going to talk about weight a lot because I think it’s the thing people struggle with the most but are also the most able to control. It’s an indicator at the beginning of so many other risk factors. If you manage your weight, you are much less likely to get high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. It’s like knocking out four risk factors in one. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a great deal to me! 

If weight is a problem for you, let’s think about ‘the why’ for a minute. Many of my patients tell me they can’t lose weight because being overweight runs in their families. However, recent research proves just how much control we have over our so-called genetic destinies. People with overweight or obese parents are indeed more likely to be overweight or obese as adults, but it is not a hard and fixed rule. You’re just as likely to “inherit” lifestyle habits that you can change, and what you do influences how genes get turned on or off. That’s a better indicator of body weight than the weight of your parents.

Although it’s pretty standard these days, I believe the best way to gauge your weight is by using the Body Mass Index, or BMI. Another way to gauge this is by measuring your weight circumference matter. 

Excess fat can increase the risk of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and more. It’s time for a healthier lifestyle now. You can determine your body fat!