The Dangers of Abdominal Fat
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
One of the most serious health problems facing Americans today is obesity. The United States has become one of the fattest nations on earth. Nearly 100 million people in this country -- an astounding 55% of the adult population -- are overweight. Those numbers have grown by 8% in the last ten years and they continue to grow, with no end in sight.
As people age, they tend to accumulate excess fat in the abdominal region, especially in men. The problem becomes more visible and problematic as we enter middle age. We may develop what are jokingly called "love handles" or "beer bellies," but these are nothing to joke about. Excess abdominal fat can contribute to the incidence of coronary-vascular ailments, Type-2 diabetes and certain forms of cancer.
Today, record numbers of Americans are living sedentary lives. We no longer have to hunt, fish or farm for our sources
of sustenance, nor do most of us engage in physical activity that helps keep our weight down. We sit in our cars or at
our desks behind our computers for eight or more hours a day or stand in one place on an assembly line. During our
leisure time, we sit on plush couches watching television or we engage in other passive forms of entertainment like
computer or video games.
Unless we make a conscious effort to exercise, we generally don't get enough of it in our daily litany of activities.
To make matters worse, the quality of our food has deteriorated. Whereas we once ate foods that were high in fiber grains,
vitamins and other nutrients, we're now eating processed goods in which many of the nutrients have been extracted and
replaced with chemical substitutes. Large-scale agricultural production has depleted many essential minerals from the
soil where crops are grown. Consequently, we're eating produce that doesn't supply 100% of our bodies' needs for building
strong bones and healthy immune systems.
To make matters even worse, we're also ingesting massive quantities of beverages that are laden with sugar and/or simple
carbohydrates. Beer and carbonated soft drinks are the major culprits here.
So, now that we know the basic reasons why we're overweight and less healthy, what can we do to get rid of those extra
pounds? The answer is basically twofold: eat higher quality food and get sufficient exercise. This may sound elementary
but getting to that point is not elementary. It takes discipline, willpower and a regimented program but, most of all,
it takes a desire to attain your goal. That desire starts with recognition of the problem.
Many people think that all they have to do to get healthy is lose weight. Unfortunately, it's a little more complicated
than that. You also must get your "Body Mass Index" into an acceptable range.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the generally accepted standard by which we measure obesity. BMI is the number arrived at when
you calculate your weight in kilograms divided by your height squared. To save you the hassle of conversion and
calculations, I have included a helpful chart below. Your BMI is where the lines of your height and weight intersect.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Derby, C. A., Zilber, S., Brambilla, D., Morales, K. H., & McKinlay, J. B. (2006). Body mass index, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio and change in sex steroid hormones: the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study. Clin Endocrinol, 65(1), 125-131.
Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & wholeness: Complementary and alternative therapies for mental health. Bloomington, IN: Author House.
Whitmer, R. A., Gunderson, E. P., Quesenberry, C. P. Jr, Zhou, J., & Yaffe, K. (2007). Body mass index in midlife and risk of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Curr Alzheimer Res, 4(2), 103-109.
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