How To Lose Weight: Are You Obese Or Overweight? What's The Difference? Learn How To Diet

The basic difference between obesity and overweight is one of degree. Both apply to a condition of carrying more weight than is considered than is conducive to good health.

Both conditions result from an imbalance between the number of calories eaten and the number of calories used up by means of normal body functions, and physical exercise. When a balance between calories in and out is achieved body weight will be normal.

You must learn proper nutrition, and what makes a diet the "correct diet", to protect your health. The correct diet includes portion control, as well as avoidance of added sugar; (of course there are other factors too).

There are a variety of factors that influence how quickly our bodies naturally burn calories. Genetics (what we inherit from our ancestors), eating the wrong kinds of food (high fat), and the kind of work we do, all play a part in achieving "balance". In uncommon instances illness or disease may play a part. For example, some kinds of kidney and heart disease as well as thyroid disorders may be responsible for weight gain...either actual increase of tissue, or by retaining fluid. See your doctor for any of these illnesses.

But, even without a predisposition to any of these problems, being overweight or obese will contribute to the development of many disorders, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, abnormal sleep patterns, arthritis and other joint conditions, and some cancers. Recent studies have shown that losing only five to ten percent of body weight can contribute to overall health and lower risk of becoming sick.

Body mass index (BMI) is a one measurement used to calculate body weight. You can calculate your BM by the following three steps:

Multiply your weight in pounds by 703

Divide the answer by your height in inches

Divide that answer by your height in inches again.

(This formula will not only determine the condition of your body weight, it will also sharpen your brain. If your brain is already sharp enough, you can ask the doctor or nurse to calculate it for you or you can find a BMI calculator online).

If your BMI is calculated between 25 and 25.9, you are overweight; if it is between 30 and 39.9 you are obese; if it is over 40 you are considered to be morbidly obese. There are exceptions to these rules. For example, athletes may have a high BMI because muscle tissue weigh more than fat. Please note: this BMI calculation does not apply to children...consult your physician if you believe your child is overweight.

The reason most adults are overweight is because we are all eating more food than is required for the maintenance of body and health. The extra calories are stored as fat.

Your BMI result is not a foolproof way to determine your state of health. However, it is a highly accurate tool for determining whether your weight is an issue that needs to be corrected.

You now have your BMI number. Now start the correct diet!

Diet without drugs or any pills, and protect your health. If you're serious, I'll help you.

By Sue Bristol, R.N.

My eBook will lead you through the way to make it work for you, and your obese child, or spouse. Here's the "Secret Weight Loss Diet" that virtually EVERY successful dieter uses. (Whether or not they are even aware of it!)

"Click Here" to get your Free e-book, which will give you the "Weight Loss Secret" Kids shouldn't be obese. http://www.how-to-loseweight-101.com/index1.html

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Overweight - Are Late Nights Making You Fat?

It is no secret that the size of our population is increasing. And I do mean outwards rather than in numbers. Discussions as to why this is the case are numerous and include anything from the type of food that we eat, the serving size, gut toxicity and hormones imbalances.

And now a study (St-Onge, March 2011) has found that not enough sleep can contribute. The study found that when tired, women ate around 328.6 extra calories a day compared to men who ate 262.7 extra calories a day.

Having worked night shift for some years, this really comes as no surprise to me. Without adequate sleep it is difficult to motivate oneself to cook a healthy meal. For me personally, waking up after only a few hours of sleep always ended up in a trip to the fridge. Having witnessed what was eaten on night shift by my fellow workers in the hospital (sweets & lollies, chips from the vending machine etc.); it is also of no surprise that sleep deprived people put on weight.

But when it comes to putting on weight and sleeping irregular hours, other factors also come in to play. The body has its own 24 hour clock called the circadian rhythm which is programmed for sleeping and eating at specific times of the day. For example our adrenal hormones are raised early in the mornings to support us becoming active as we prepare ourselves for the day. Our digestive function is supposedly at its most active at 8am in the morning. So for shift workers, going to sleep in the daytime and staying away through the night is fighting against the inbuilt functions of our body.

Stress can often be the cause of problem sleep, especially if a person is waking between 2 and 3 am. Raised cortisol levels can be the result of stress. These hormones are glucose based and can subsequently disrupt the burning of fat.

As tempting as it may be to stay up late to watch a movie or to go out clubbing at 10 o'clock at night, remember that these habits do not support your health. If working night shift is unavoidable here's a few tips to help control your weight and your health.

Plan ahead to ensure that you have plenty of healthy food available in the house, otherwise you may be tempted to grab the first thing at hand when you wake up hungry.Take a packet of nuts to work with you - nibbling on these is a healthy option that provides a good source of protein, fat and carbohydrate.Take food to work with you. This way you are less likely to join in the early morning sugar hit that many of your work mates will be relying on to get them through their shift.Try to avoid eating 4 hours prior to sleep time or having caffeine drinks late into your shift. This will only make sleep matters worse.Be prepared to change your exercise habits - abandoning them while doing night work will not help with sleep or burning those extra calories that might sneak in each day.Increase your sleep quality by establishing an environment that is sleep enhancing e.g.blackening out your bedroom, reducing all noise e.g. using an air conditioner to block out unwanted noise, no television in the room. Also take the phone off the hook, ask the neighbours to keep quite, avoid stimulating activity (e.g. exercise) prior to sleep.

By incorporating a few of these simple steps, longterm health and weight issues could be avoided.

Vivienne Savill is an author, Naturopath and Nurse who runs a natural health clinic in Australia. She is passionate about teaching people how to maintain good health and prevent ill health, through the use of diet, nutrition, lifestyle and herbs. Vivienne has written numerous self help books including How to Stop Metabolic Syndrome: A Prevention and Treatment Guide to Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease, which can be found at http://www.recipetohealth.com/.

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Whether you are overweight or obese? Know your BMI

Just like many people do not understand why they should keep a healthy weight, many can actually do not know if they are overweight, or how much. Anyone who has watched the biggest loser, or any other weight loss show, I know I know how to "on top of the" weight ", in many ways. The easiest and most common way to the mass of the body, however, remains on the Index (BMI). BMI chart is used to determine the estimated height and weight using the body mass. Cross references, the data in the chart will give you a number that is a BMI-classification. These numbers are classified as follows:

18.5 Underweight below

Typical 24.9 18.5

26-29.9 Overweight

30-34, 9 Obese (class I)

35-39.9 Severely obese (class II)

40 plus massively (or Super) for obese (category III)

The chart is not complete without taking account of the man or woman, or a skeletal frame and musculature differences. For example, the 6 ' 4 "big boned, Samoan, who plays Rugby professionally might weigh much, but very muscular and fit. His BMI levels are still high. BMI table appearance, that of 76 inches, and weighing over 250 lbs to give our obese BMI over 30 of Samoa .... His real fat and muscle ratio, however, is very low. He has all the muscle. This does not apply to most readers, however! Us dismisses my BMI is usually an approximation. BMI, however, is considered a fairly reliable at baseline to see if you need to pay more attention to the weight (and health), or not.

For those who find even the BMI is too complex, another good rule of thumb is that you're overweight, if weighed 20 pounds more than the weight, in the tables suggests is the ideal; obese if overweight, 50 pounds and the seriously obese if you are 80 pounds Overweight.

Suppose you are now convinced you might need to be taken of the weight and health, and more? The next step would be, well, learn to start a lifestyle-L.E.A.N.-Living of educated about nutrition on the go! The business traveler, you have a unique way of life and you need a set of unique solutions. You should investigate and try a different way, it may be proactive, and health. I believe that this understanding about the basics of feeding begins.

Read more in my book, and the weekly blog.

Dr Veronica Tomor-author and speaker
http://www.leantraveler.com/
Twitter: leantraveler
Fanpage: Author Veronica Tomor

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