So what can you do about it? You know you need to lose weight but you do have to be careful as to how you implement any weight loss program. The key is to take things slowly. You didn’t become obese overnight so you are not going to shed all those pounds overnight either. In fact losing weight too fast could create a whole new set of health problems. So be smart and do it the healthy way.

You first need to consult your doctor. Get a complete physical, blood work and all. Besides weighing you and taking your vital statistics, he/she can also check your body mass index (BMI). Women with a BMI over 30 need to be properly supervised when undertaking a new healthy living regime. You need to gradually introduce exercise and physical activity into your life. The good news for obese women though, is that although it may be difficult to become more physically active, you will see results very quickly. Large women tend to lose the pounds quicker at first, than skinny women.

You don’t need to join a gym if you don’t want to. Walking is a great form of exercise and it is free. Take things slowly at first but build up your speed since going for a leisurely stroll is not going to burn the optimal amount of calories. With practice you will get faster and stronger, as you get used to a walking routine.

In the meantime,  you also need to address your diet.  This of course, doesn’t just mean what you eat, although obviously that is important, but you will also need to address how and when you eat. Your doctor or a good nutritionist can help you with this.

Generally speaking we all overeat. We have forgotten how to listen to our bodies and let it tell us when we are full. We serve large portions of food on big plates and have become accustomed to clearing our plates. So the meal is over when the plate is clean not when we are full.

The first recommended step in your healthy eating regime is to reduce portion sizes. It is best to also reduce the size of the plates you use as otherwise you could feel deprived if your food portion is not covering your plate. These little visual mind games can play a big part in your road to success.

The next step is to start cooking or preparing your meals from scratch. Only then do you know what you are eating. Store bought and convenience food often contains hidden fats and sugars among other potentially harmful ingredients. They are put in to make the food look and taste better plus last longer. By cooking your own meals, you will reduce your calorie intake without even trying. You don’t have to be a master chef.  Simple home cooking is fine.

By utilizing just these few tips, you will see results a lot sooner than you think, but surely, not overnight. Hopefully, the small daily successes will motivate you to continue on your quest to lose weight, slim down and tone up. Not only will you look better, but you will feel better too!

Overweight and obese people are subjected to an onslaught of burdens by society. Obesity itself is a medical condition, but the stigma that is attached is a psychological condition. People with weight issues are often the subject of torment, especially if they were larger growing up. Without knowing it, children can be incredibly mean.

They do not intend to hurt the individual, they are just brutally honest. A small child seeing an obese person walking down the street can ask their parent “why is that person so fat?” The parent tells the child to hush, but the overweight person has heard what was asked and the result is hurt feelings.

School children will make fun of those that are different while on the schoolyard. An overweight child oftentimes grows up to be an overweight adult because they have been told their entire lives that they are fat and lazy. People do not realize that words hurt. If repeated over the years, the words stick. This can lead to the obese person hating themselves, becoming depressed, becoming anxious, withdrawing from the world and remaining alone.

Overweight and obese people think badly enough of themselves without the rest of society telling them that they are, indeed, fat, lazy, ugly, will never find anyone to love them, will die young, have no will-power, and have no control over their own habits. By society constantly screaming this at them either directly or through television, movies, and magazines, they are just reinforcing these bad thoughts. Society is also more likely to discriminate against overweight people when it comes to hiring for new jobs and getting into colleges. This in turn leads to a stronger depression, anxiety, and more isolation.

People feel that if you are fat and depressed, there is an easy fix – just stop eating and you will feel better and the depression will go away. What they do not realize is that many obese people eat to fulfill some kind of emotional void. They eat because eating feels and tastes good so they feel slightly better. They begin to equate food with happiness and feel that by eating more, surely that will make them happier. What they do not realize is that they are actually self-defeating their own goals. It is a constant cycle between society and overweight individuals.

What people should do is realize that what they say and do affects others. It is like what your mother always said when you were young – “think before you speak”. If more people did that then we would live in a far kinder and peaceful world.

There is a much more common occurrence of people that are overweight or obese in the United States today. Statistics have shown that almost two-thirds of the adults in America are overweight or obese. The more immediate concern is the fact that about 15% of American children and adolescents are overweight and there is another 15% that are at risk for being overweight.

Obesity in children is becoming more and more concerning. There are a substantial number of children that are obese and have started developing medical condition and diseases that are normally associated with adults. The smallest children are at risk of being overweight or obese. Approximately 10% of the preschoolers in America weigh more than they should for their age and body type.

There are a variety of medical conditions that many people can develop related to being overweight or obese. Some of these conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, high cholesterol, and many others. The most common condition, however, is heart disease. If you are overweight or obese, there is a very strong chance that you will develop heart disease.

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in America today. In the United States, there is one person that is killed by heart disease every thirty-four seconds. Heart disease is a term that relates to many different medical conditions and afflictions of the heart.

It is often much easier to just label it as heart disease than to get into the specific details and different ailments of heart disease. Another reason for this is that there is usually more than one thing affecting the heart. There can be multiple conditions going on at once. These conditions combine and attack the heart. It essentially becomes a diseased, poorly working organ. Eventually, the disease process completely takes over and death is imminent.

There are many ways to reduce the risk of heart disease and to curb problems with obesity. Even losing as little as 10 pounds can lower your risks and actually start reversing health problems. There are many different programs and treatments available.

Some people are able to lose weight and become healthier through diet and exercise. However, in cases of extreme obesity, this often does not work. People that have severe obesity could need surgery or special procedures that are done by a doctor to be able to lose the weight. There are also pills and other medications that can help with obesity. The important thing is to find a way to lose the weight. This is the only way to reduce the health risks. It will put less stress on the body and the heart. With this stress decreased, the body can start healing itself.

If a child has too much body fat they are considered obese. A child is considered obese if their body mass index (BMI) is in the 95 percentile, or above, for their age and gender. While some obesity can be genetic the vast majority of overweight children are overweight for the same reasons so many adults are: too much of the wrong types of food and not enough exercise.

Just like with overweight adults, obese children are very prone to many health issues:

1. High blood pressure and high cholesterol. These two health issues are the leading cause of heart disease and an obese child is far more likely to have heart disease when they reach early adulthood!  Again, what used to be considered more of a middle age ailment will often strike an obese child in their early twenties or thirties.   A recent study found that obese children had the same type of plaque buildup in their arteries as what a 45 year old would have.

2. Children who are obese also have a much higher chance of developing onset diabetes.   A study found that obese children are up to two times more likely to have diabetes than children of the same age that weren’t overweight.  This early onset of diabetes can mean a lifetime of health issues and can frequently cause kidney disease and even blindness.

3. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics up to 35 % of obese children have sleep apnea. This disorder causes someone to stop breathing for a few seconds at a time while they are asleep.  Up until recently this was only found in adults.  Sleep apnea can lead to many issues, the most obvious of which is not getting enough sleep. This lack of sleep in a child can cause difficulties in school and learning disabilities in a developing child.

4. Depression is also common in obese children.  Obese children are often mocked and ridiculed by other kids at school which can lead to low self esteem and eventually behavioral problems and trouble in school.

Childhood obesity is a very serious medical, and emotional, issue and is certainly not something that should be ignored as ‘just a phase’.  The good news is that many of the health problems of an obese child can be reversed once the child loses weight.

It’s really not as hard as it may seem.  Encourage your kid to go outside and play, everyday, for at least 30 minutes.  Also getting rid of the fast food and processed food can help a lot.  Kids will often mimic what they see their parents doing so you can get a two for one: you can spend more time exercising and eating right which will help your child to develop healthier habits and that way you’ll both benefit as well as share some great together time!

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Although Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented exercise is a phenomenal way to help control insulin sensitivity throughout the body. The exertion brought forth by the exercise causes the muscles to burn the glucose more efficiently. But a great side effect of the exercise will cause your metabolism to speed up, which in turn will burn calories thus helping your body to shed those extra pounds.

You should know that even though Type 1 Diabetes cannot be prevented, it is possible to prevent Type 2. One of the first steps you must take to prevent it is commence a weight loss program that combines exercise and healthy eating. You should then follow up step 1 with the proper vitamins and herbal supplements, which in turn reduce insulin sensitivity and help in maintaining a healthy weight.

Recent studies have determined that a 30 minute walk every day can dramatically decrease the possibility of an overweight person contracting Type 2 Diabetes. The natural swing of the arms and legs will increase the circulation to the heart and lungs. This in turn will reduce the chances for heart disease and help avoid the possibility of losing circulation in the lower extremities. This is a deadly side effect of diabetes.

Diabetics and overweight people often suffer from high blood pressure. This as you know causes a shrinking of the blood vessels and restricts blood flow to the extremities of the body, particularly the lower ones. Exercise of course lowers the blood pressure and in doing so opens the blood vessels. Thus increasing the blood flow to the lower extremities; which in turn prevents the terrible damage to the toes and feet of a diabetic or overweight person.

However, this does not happen overnight and it is imperative to your weight loss and control/prevention of diabetes. Because the exercise should be done every day there are some inherent dangers which can be induced by the exercise. The good thing is if you are aware of these dangers you can stay ahead of the game.

1. If you are diabetic or borderline diabetic exercise will lower the blood sugar levels and you may become hypoglycemic. If you exercise alone always have a candy bar or a natural juice (orange juice) or other fruit juices which can quickly restore your blood sugar level.

2. Closely monitor how you feel physically during and after exercise. If you notice that you are feeling weak and drained or experience a sudden onset of hunger it’s possible your blood sugar levels are dropping below the safe level. Again go for the candy or the juices.

Weight loss and exercise for diabetics go hand in hand. It is important you work with your doctor or other professional health provider to make sure you are doing things right. You can control both weight loss and diabetes, don’t let them control you.

Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey have also made weight loss and how to lose weight a highly marketable issue on her famous talk show. Oprah herself has suffered with the battle of weight loss and has publicly shown how difficult it can be for us to lose weight in the face of the availability of food and the advertising surrounding food. Everyone at some time in his/her life has tried to lose weight and some have been struggling unsuccessfully with weight loss.

Therefore weight loss is not an issue for the rich or poor in our society but it is an issue for everyone concerned about the health, survival and quality of life of the next generation. We have to avoid the blame game and seek to seriously address the issue of obesity, especially childhood obesity. Society needs to make demands on advertisers. Junk food targeting young, impressionable kids needs to be curtailed and avoided altogether.

Parents should be re-educated on the nutritional value of food for growing, young children. While the ultimate goal is to achieve weight loss and prevent obesity, it is more important to teach people how to prepare nutritious foods and snacks from the simple fruit and vegetables that are found in all food stores across America.

Obese people have learned all their bad eating habits from the advertisements that have been forced on them by special interests groups in society. Maybe the time has come for us to get off our butts and do something other than watch TV and it’s proliferation of food advertisements!

The basic conclusion is that anyone who is considerably overweight is at higher risk for a number of potential health problems. These include various forms of heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon cancer, liver damage, gallstones and others.

But what is ‘considerably overweight’?

There’s no static, ideal weight for any given individual, though there are various factors that provide a healthy range. One measurement that is a good starting point is BMI (Body Mass Index). To calculate it, just divide your weight (in kg) by your height (in m) squared. The following table is a rough classification:

Under 18.5 = Underweight
Between 18.5 and 24.99 = Normal Weight
Between 25 and 29.99 = Overweight
Between 30 and 34.99 = Obese (Class 1)
Between 35 and 39.99 = Obese (Class 2)
40 and above = Extreme Obesity

For those on the lower end of the BMI scale, health risks are no more (or at most only moderately higher) than for anyone. Genetic and other environmental factors will outweigh any body fat or weight issues. But for those nearer the higher range, there is strong evidence that health risks are higher.

For example, abdominal obesity (having large fat deposits around the stomach and abdomen) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance syndrome. For women, a waist circumference of 35 inches or more (40+ in men) is an indicator of abdominal obesity. Among other conditions, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high cholesterol are all common factors associated with that condition.

Narrowing of the arteries, atherosclerosis, contributes to the possibility of a clot which can cause a stroke. Excessive body fat is one factor in producing that condition. At the same time, it plays a part in increased blood pressure (hypertension).

Rapid weight gain, from 10-20 lbs for the average person, increases the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes. Genetic factors are fundamental, but weight gain plays a role, according to most studies. The risk is double that of an individual who has not had a weight gain, when other factors are held constant.

Liver disease, apart from that associated with excessive alcohol consumption, can be caused by insulin resistance. That resistance is much more likely among those who are obese. There are many studies which have correlated BMI with the degree of liver damage. The higher the BMI, the greater the odds of liver trouble.

Gallstones are more likely to form in those who are obese, and may be correlated with a rapid rise in BMI. Sleep apnea (interruption of breathing during sleep) is another condition commonly linked to obesity.

In short, though no single study is definitive, and there are many genetic and other environmental elements, excessive body fat is a substantial factor in health issues. Being overweight is not merely an issue of acceptable appearance, it’s a health risk.

But if you look at it from an evolutionary aspect, the ability to store excess calories in the form of fat cells is a very life-serving ability. When a person consumes more calories than the body uses for muscle movement, internal temperature maintenance and cellular repair the remainder is stored in the chemical bonds of fat cells. Technically, it’s stored in something called ‘adipose tissue’.

Energy – which calories measure – isn’t a substance, so it’s not the same as fat. But that energy becomes available for use when those fat molecules break down into simpler products. That happens when a person increases movement or otherwise triggers a need for more energy.

Carbohydrates are one major source of that energy. Sugars (chiefly glucose) and starches are the two main forms and they participate in something called the Krebs Cycle. Also known in scientific circles as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, but don’t bother trying to pronounce it. Sugars come in, get broken down into something called ATP, then into ADP releasing energy in the process.

When the body runs out of glucose to use in the cycle, it turns to stored body fat as a substitute. Breaking down those fat molecules is, in essence, what causes a person to decrease the percentage of body fat. Sometimes increased muscle mass results, so the final result isn’t always a net weight loss.

But in biology, as in life, everything is best in moderation. When more calories are consumed than used over a long period of time, body fat increases to the point that the health risks can outweigh the benefits of a ready supply of energy. The result is an increase in the odds of heart difficulties, diabetes and other real medical problems. The social consequences are equally well known.

Knowing this, many will strive to maintain their weight and percentage of body fat within a certain range. That range differs from person to person (people have different body types), season to season (winter fat can actually be healthy) and according to their individual BMI (Body Mass Index).

So, in order to decide whether you are obese, only moderately over the preferred weight range, or just lack muscle tone, you need to consider those factors. Doing so requires knowing your specific body type, the ability to calculate BMI (very simple, actually) and recognizing that there is no exact, static, ideal weight for you.