Obesity is, quite simply, excess of body fat. Usually, anyone who is 20percent over the normal weight for his or her age, sex, build, and height is considered obese. According to the mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a person’s weight is healthy if it falls within the acceptable range for his or her height and age; if the pattern of fat distribution does not place the person at increased risk for certain diseases; and if the person has no medical problem for which a physician recommends that he or she lose weight.

Being overweight is a contributing cause of many preventable illnesses. How much a person weighs is only part of the story, however. Perhaps more important than weight is the percentage of fat in the body. For healthy women, fat can account for as much as 25percent of body weight; 17percent is a healthy percentage for men. Women’s bodies are designed to carry a higher proportion of fat tissue to ensure that there is plenty of fuel for pregnancy and nursing, even if food is scarce.

The average human body has 30 to 40 billion fat cells. Most of the extra calories we eat that we do not need for immediate energy are stored as fat. If we were still "hunter gatherers" like our early ancestors, the fat would provide a needed food store for times when no food is readily available. In fact, some researchers believe that our seemingly innate love of high calorie (especially fatty) foods may be a remnant of a survival tactic from ancient times, when we needed to store food for energy. But in modern society, storing energy as fat is no longer necessary for most people. Most Americans wait no more than four hours between meals and snacks. So instead of being a valuable survival mechanism, the body’s ability to store fat now is more likely to have a profoundly negative effect on health.

More about obesity definition and treatment

If you have been sedentary for some time, try exercising in water. Water aerobics are excellent for those who are overweight or who find running or walking difficult, they are also good for arthritis sufferers. Water aerobics tone the body and strengthen the heart without straining the joints. Start by taking a class at a local fitness center. Sedentary individuals should consult their health care providers before starting and exercise program. Drink at four to six liters of water daily. Herbal teas and steam distilled water with trace minerals added are good. Taken before meals, they help to reduce your appetite. They are nonfattening fillers that also help to dilute toxins and flush them out of the body. Herbal teas mixed with unsweetened fruit juice are very satisfying low calorie drinks and are also very filling. Use these between meals and when a desire for sweets hits you. Drink sparkling water mixed with fruits juice in place of sodas.

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