Obesity has become a national epidemic. In fact, obesity in America is not only a health issue, it is fast turning into an economic concern as well. Eric Finkelstein of RTI International reveals that a study conducted by RTI International, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has highlighted the economic cost of this problem. Obesity is costing the US a whooping $147 billion annually!

Worse, obesity has affected everyone in America-the young and old alike. Health issues that stem from being overweight range from simply not fitting in conventional clothes' sizes to type II diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Being a few pounds too fat can erode self-confidence at the very least, and kill you at the most.

That's why it's important to keep fit at any age. Unfortunately, there are far too many unscrupulous individuals out there who sell expensive gadgets, pills and what-not that promise weight loss with minimal or little effort. These are empty promises and you should be forewarned: If you want shed those extra fats, you've got to sweat it!

It's not easy. But with the right mindset (staying alive and well for your kids is one hell of a motivation), it becomes easy to integrate exercise into your life. You can start by simply taking a brisk walk. Start with 15 minutes a day, increase it to thirty until you can build enough resistance to do it for an hour. If walking is too much, you can play with your kids. Try running around with your little one-it's almost a certainty that you'd be the first one to surrender.

If you want to really get serious about losing weight, you might want to enroll in an aerobics or yoga class. Yes, yoga can help you lose weight and improve muscle tone. If a pool is nearby, you can try doing laps. Knowing that your bulges are showing when you slip into that swimsuit can also be a good way to motivate yourself to lose weight. You can also avail yourself of gym membership or hire a personal trainer if you can afford it.

However, your exercises will all go to naught if you don't watch what you eat after each workout session. You've got to let go of the mindset that "it's okay to eat all I can, I'll burn when I exercise tomorrow, anyway." That will only get you in circles. Eat more fruits and vegetables, go easy on the fat. Don't get tempted to raid the refrigerator at midnight, too. And watch that you don't get too depressed or too stressed-you're prone to emotional overeating under times of duress. Strive to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle-physically, socially, emotionally and psychologically.

One thing: You can't win the battle of the bulge on your own. You've got to enlist the help of your family and friends. They've got to serve as your cheerleaders-always ready to root for you especially during those times when you feel ready to give up. They've also got to act as your examples-always ready to eat what you eat so those "sin" foods are kept out of the way.

But the ultimate actor is you. You've got to treat your exercise regimen with a "do or die" attitude. In the final analysis, you'll have to sweat to lose those pounds or die from obesity-related concerns.