How Math Can You Help You Lose Weight and Reduce National Obesity Rate

Do you know what a mathematician finds out to solve the obesity problem?

Dr. Carson Chow is an MIT-trained mathematician and physicist. He was a faculty of the math department at the University of Pittisburgh. Recently he works for National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease – a branch of the National Institutes of Health. He’s in charge of a project trying to figure out why 2 in 3 Americans are overweight, 1 in 3 are obese.

Consider the facts:

- Between 1975 and 2005, the average weight of Americans had increased by about 20 pounds.

- Since the 1970s, the national obesity rate had jumped from around 20 percent to over 30 percent.

- The levels of physical activity have not really changes in the past 30 years.

After crunching large volume of numbers, he finally developed a mathematical model to answer a host of questions about weight loss. The mathematical equation says:

- The conventional widsom of 3500 calories less is what it takes to lose a pound of weight is wrong! It’s not a constant as your body changes when you lose weight.

- The fatter you get, the easier it is to gain weight.

- If you eat 100 calories fewer a day, you will lose 10 pounds on the average in 3 years – if you don’t cheat.

- Large variations in daily food intake will not cause variation in weight as long as the average food intake over a year is about the same, because your body responds slowly to food intake.

- All diets work. But the reaction time is really slow, on the order of a year. Most people aren’t patient and wait long enough to see what they’re doing to stabilize their weight.

His conclusion?

Overproduction of food in the United States.

Since the 1970s, the government changed agricultural policy to promote farming to full production. The price of foods went down and the number of calories available to the average American increased by about 1000 a day!

Well, what do think people do with that extra 1000 calories? They eat it, of course. If you know that Americans are already wasting a lot of foods, obesity would be even worse if they eat them all.

Take-away Message

Watch what you eat and how much you eat and when.

If you’re interested in learning how to use the mathematician’s equation, go to NIH site below for the Body Weight Simulator.

http://bwsimulator.niddk.nih.gov/

Morris County NJ Personal Trainer Carey Yang Declares War against Epidemic Obesity

Fighting against rising epidemic obesity is a national warfare declared by Morris County NJ personal trainer, fitness expert and diet coach Care Yang.

Obese Pot Belly

National obesity rate keeps rising with no stop in sight. According to new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 32 million more Americans will become obese by 2030, upping obesity rates to 42 percent of the U.S. population

The report also predicts that the proportion of Americans who are severely obese, meaning more than 100 pounds overweight, will reach 11 percent, about double the current rate. The damage is $550 billion of obesity-related health care costs that can be used to build national infrastructure, improve education, enhance job skills training, reduce unemployment rate, and stimulate economy.

"This is a sad story to read," says Carey Yang,  a certified personal trainer and fitness expert in New Jersey.

Yang is the owner and master personal trainer at Beyond Fitness Solutions, LLC — a leading in-home personal training and weight-loss management company serving and helping clients in Morris County, Sussex County, Passaic County, Essex County and Somerset County areas in New Jersey.

About 34 percent of adults are currently obese, creating a whole host of expensive, chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"This is a war and we have to fight together as a nation," Yang says. "It has to start with youth. We know that about 50 percent of severe obesity in adults is consequence of obesity in childhood. Currently about 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese."

Yang says, we have so many government agencies, non-profit organizations, communities and schools involved to fight both adult and childhood obesity with a variety of programs. Even the First Lady Michelle Obama early this year launched a campaign to fight childhood obesity by improving childhood nutrition and physical activity.

“Nutrition and exercise start from home. Parents hold the key to educating their children,” Yang says. “Parents should be good role models for their children. If your children see you slouch in front of the tube and dig into a bag of chips along with a bottle of beer, it’s hard to resist the same lifestyle. Chunky Mom, plus chunky Dad, often equals chunky kids and pets.”

Yang advocates parents and family involvements in fighting against obesity. Health and fitness is truly a family matter. He offers a few solutions to promoting active lifestyle and making healthy choices.

1. Be a positive role model. Parents have to set a good example for themselves and for their children such as regular exercise, being active and eating a healthy balanced die.

2. Set family time to prepare meals and exercise together. Research shows that families eating and exercising together also stay closer. 

3. Assign household chores. Children can learn the value of responsibility by sharing active household chores while increasing physical activity.

4. Limit sedentary activities. Watching TV and playing electronic games have taken so much time and opportunity out of moving around and exercising. Studies have shown that reducing TV time is associated with reductions in body weight and body fat.

It’s a day-to-day process and a series of repeated small steps that add up to awesome health habits. “Every time you choose the vegetables over the chips, a walk over a drive, and an active game over T.V., you’ve just made another donation to yourself and to your families lifetime health and fitness fund,” Yang says.

About C. Carey Yang and Beyond Fitness Solutions, LLC
C. Carey Yang, Your Dream Body WorkoutXpert (TM), is a certified personal trainer and fitness boot camp instructor based in Morris County, New Jersey. He provides in-home personal fitness training, backyard boot camp, wellness and lifestyle coaching, and fitness and weight-management seminar. He specializes in helping busy, working professionals who want safe, effective workouts with maximum results in minimum time. Yang is the creator of the 6-Step Dream Body Blueprint (TM) Body Transformation System.

To learn more about lifestyle and wellness coaching, personal fitness training and nutritional counseling and to sign up for a free monthly e-zine, receive free fitness and fat loss e-books, and schedule a complimentary consultation, visit http://www.BeyondFitnessSolutions.com.

He is also available for media interviews, providing a list of tips and articles, and presenting wellness and fitness seminar. Call 973-303-2424 or email Carey at BeyondFitnessSolutions.com.


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U.S. Obesity Rate Expected to Climb to 42% by 2030

About 32 million more Americans will become obese by 2030, upping obesity rates to 42 percent of the U.S. population, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report also predicts that the proportion of Americans who are severely obese, meaning more than 100 pounds overweight, will reach 11 percent, about double the current rate.

The report’s authors give a sobering price tag for these predictions: such an increase would create $550 billion of obesity-related health care costs.

Eric Finkelstein, one of the authors of the report, said the prospect of such increasing rates, particularly those of severely obese Americans, is alarming since efforts aimed at helping people lose weight have so far proven relatively ineffective.

“Their weight continues to increase. Over the last 10 years, it has gone up tremendously,” he said in a press conference. “This is a group at great risk of health complications, and yet they are increasing at an even greater rate than the rate of obesity.”

The report was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and was released at the CDC’s Weight of the Nation conference today, a gathering focused on the impact of the obesity epidemic. The authors analyzed data collected from each state and made projections based on a number of factors influencing obesity rates, including the cost of healthy and unhealthy foods, gas prices and Internet access.

“Predicting obesity is tricky and no one variable showed up as causing obesity,” Finkelstein said.

Although recent data suggest that rates of obesity have reached a plateau, current rates of obesity are still alarmingly high. About 34 percent of adults are currently obese, creating a whole host of expensive, chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The report’s authors said a number of factors could lead to the predicted rise in obesity. About two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight and could continue to gain weight and move into the obese category.

Dr. William Dietz, one of the study’s authors and director of the CDC’s division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, also noted that children who are currently overweight or obese will likely be a major source of the increasing rates.

“We know that about 50 percent of severe obesity in adults is consequence of obesity in childhood,” he said.

Currently about 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese.

Anti-obesity measures such as better urban design, access to recreational facilities, workplace health promotion and new drugs could help reign in the problem, the authors noted.

Americans Are Fat and Getting Much Fatter by 2020

Whether you like it or not, Americans are fat, and expected to get much fatter at the current trend.

In the current trend, 83 percent of men and 72 percent of women will be overweight or obese by 2020.

Obesity is a number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The latest numbers come from Mark Huffman, an assistant professor of preventive medicine and cardiology at Northwestern University who presented them at the annual scientific meeting of the American Heart Asssociation this week.

Dr. Huffman evaluated current rates for cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, lack of exercise, diet, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. The data shows that reductions in smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure since 1988 have been offset by weight gain, diabetes, and pre-diabetes.

Then he took the increases in weight, diabetes, and prediabetes, and predicted where they would go in the next two decades. That's how he came up with more than three-quarters of Americans becoming overweight.

Right now, 32 percent of men and 34 percent of women are obese. Those numbers are projected to rise to 43 and 42 percent in 2020, close to half of all people.

The number of people who have diabetes or are pre-diabetic is also projected to increase, from 6.3 percent and 37 percent of women to 8.3 percent and 44 percent. That's more than half of women.

Where can we get help?

Everybody knows they need to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Knowing is one thing, doing is another.

Each individual needs to take responsibility for their own life. It starts with the family, school and community. More education, more and easier access to activities, more affordable fresh f

Does NJ Gov. Chris Christie Have a Slim Fat Chance to Run for U.S. President and Win in 4 Years?

Yes. There is still a slim fat chance that NJ Gov. Chris Christie can run for U.S. President and win the race if and only if he starts to lose weight, get healthy and in better shape.

Although the general American population is overweight and most (overweight) people pick on other people's weighty weight problem (in this case, NJ Gov. Chris Christie), the public still like to see a mentally sharp, physically fit President to lead a fiscally responsible and budget-balanced nation to wealth and prosperity.

Let me ask you a question, how's your workout working for you? If it hasn't been working consistently, it's time to let go and make changes.

Great leaders set a good  example for demonstrating their integrity and characters. They walk the talk, not just talk to talk. It would be an inspiration to all Americans if you step up the plate, keep your promise, show your discpline and results.

It may not the right time for you to run for U.S. President. However, it’s TIME for you to run for your own health. In fact, there is no right time, good time or bad time to lose weight, exercise and eat healthy. The only thing you have to do is to decide. Make your decision. Commit to your decision. Set up a strategic game plan. Execute the plan and follow through.

So when the time comes to run for U.S. President, you're ready for it.

You have personal trainer before and may still have one. Today, I’d like to make you an unsolicted, nonpartisan, and sincere offer.

Please allow me to be your personal trainer and fitness coach, to help you lose weight, get fit and healthy, and in good shape!

The decsison is yours.

http://www.beyondfitnesssolutions.com/beyondfitness/about/meet-our-team/carey-yang/

Tags:
fitness coach, In-home Personal Training, lose weight, Morris County Personal Trainer, Mendham NJ Personal Trainer, Mendham personal trainers, personal trainers Mendham NJ, Gov. Chris Christie

Crush Your Fat Genes and Train Like A Fitness Model Without Being One

Morris County Personal Trainer Carey Yang will lead a new group fitness training class titled “Crush Your Fat Genes: Train Like a Fitness Model Without Being One” starting Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 7:30 pm. This fat-burning and muscle-toning boot camp will take place at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, New Jersey.

DENVILLE, NJ -- February 20, 2011 – Two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. Obesity has become epidemic and the number one disease to fight against to minimize the risk of cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and high blood pressure.

“Overweight and obesity has negatively impacted our healthcare system and drained our resources,” says Carey Yang, a personal trainer and owner of Beyond Fitness Solutions, LLC based in Denville, New Jersey.

“As a personal trainer, my job is help my clients get on a healthy lifestyle by motivating them, doing regular workout through strength training and cardio exercises, and eating a nutrient-rich diet,” said Yang. “The problem is that far too many people are too busy to do any of those due to modern lifestyle. It’s my mission to change and reverse the down trend.”

Many fat people blame their fat genes by looking at their parents and family. Some research findings seem to prove that. But it is not conclusive. Obesity is the result of many influences. Genetics is only one of them.

“Most of the factors that affect body composition are entirely under your control. These factors include how much you eat, what you eat, when you eat, what type of exercise you do, how frequently you exercise, how long you exercise and how hard you exercise,” Yang said.

Yang is leading a group fitness training class called “Crush Your Fat Genes: Train Like a Fitness Model Without Being One.”

This fitness training program lets the students experience the most effective, time-efficient workouts for fat loss and muscle toning. “Whatever it takes” is the motto.

“Yes, you can train and look like a fitness model without being one, at any age. The total-body CORE program combines kickboxing and self-defense while utilizing bodyweight and light weights,” Yang said. “You’ll walk out of the training with a sense of pride, self-confidence and feeling of strength, energy and stamina.”

The group fitness class will be held at Morris Knolls High School, 50 Knoll Drive in Rockaway, New Jersey on Tuesdays March 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

The class is $49 per person for all 4 sessions. Registration is required by calling Morris Hills Adult and Continuing Education at (973) 664-2295 or visiting online http://www.mhcontinuingedu.com/. Enter class code 6173.

About C. Carey Yang and Beyond Fitness Solutions, LLC

C. Carey Yang, Your Dream Body WorkoutXpertTM, is a certified personal trainer and fitness boot camp instructor based in Denville, New Jersey. He provides in-home personal fitness training, backyard boot camp, wellness and lifestyle coaching, and fitness and weight-management seminar. He specializes in helping busy, working professionals who want safe, effective workouts with maximum results in minimum time. Yang is the creator of the 6-Step Dream Body BlueprintTM Body Transformation System.

To learn more about lifestyle and wellness coaching, personal fitness training and nutritional counseling and to sign up for a free monthly e-zine, receive free fitness and fat loss e-books, and schedule a complimentary consultation, visit http://www.beyondfitnesssolutions.com/.

He is also available for media interviews, providing a list of tips and articles, and presenting wellness and fitness seminar. Call 973-303-2424 or email Carey@BeyondFitnessSolutions.com.

America's Obesity Rate Continues to Grow - 3 in 4 Overweight by 2010

According to a new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation, three out of four Americans will be overweight or obese by 2020, and disease rates and health care spending will balloon, unless governments, individuals and industry cooperate on a comprehensive strategy to combat the epidemic.
Read the news from Chicago Tribune.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-ap-eu-oecd-getting-fatter,0,6072194.story

The projection seems in line with those made by some American researchers. About 86 percent of U.S. adults would be overweight or obese by 2030 if current trends continue, according to a study led by a Johns Hopkins University researcher and published in 2008 in the journal Obesity.
The lifespan of an obese person is up to 8-10 years shorter than that of a normal-weight person, the OECD said, the same loss of lifespan incurred by smoking.

Increase Your Workout Intensity Without Joint Pain

Many overweight people start to work out to lose weight with good intention. As a certified personal trainer, I also encourage my clients to pick up intensity but slowly. Progressive overloading is the key to permanent weight loss, fitness and body transformation.

However, far too many increase intensity either lifting weight or running on the treadmill too much too soon. They end up with joint pains on their shoulders and knees.

Although high-intensity exercise increases total caloric burn for that specific workout, remember that weight loss is a mathematical "calorie in and calorie out" equation. You have to burn more calories than you put in your body. So eat a healthy, clean diet and try to burn at least 1,500 calories a week. That is the minimum recommended number of calories you should burn to improve health according the American College of Sports Medicine. For weight loss, you should increase your caloric burn up to 2,000 to 3,000 calories a week.

Be careful following your friends through a high-impact, high-intensity workout if you are feeling pain in your joints. Some people's joints are more prone to a painful inflammation response, so do what you can do and modify your program based on your personal goals and abilities.

Cost of Overweight and Obesity

For a long while, it's difficult to pinpoint the cost of overweight and obesity and resulting health problems. People are blindsided by the implication of huge future medical cost.

A new study has shown that the savings on medical, fuel, food and other costs would be enough to give every U.S. household more than $4,000 totalling $487 billion dollars.

I'm sure it would give a big boost to the economy and quality of life.

Why Excess Belly Fat is More Deadly Than You Think

In my last post, I commented on a recent research study finding that most overweight and obese people have misconception about their actual weights.

These overweight or obese participants in the study underestimated their actual weights. They "thought" or "perceived" their weights were about right or average although in fact they're overweight or obese by BMI measurement.

Granted, BMI (Body Mass Index) is not the true best indicator of weight status and body composition. It's still the most straightforward measurement. Body fat measurement and distribution along with lean muscle mass would be the better method.

In my personal experience, most overweight or obese people acknowledge that they gain some weight and need to do something about it. They are self-conscious about their overweight bodies. But they are simply too comfortable with their weights, partly because over 65% U.S. population is overweight or obese. The U.S. obesity epidemic continutes to grow. When you see so many (two out of three) out-of-shape people everyday and everywhere, you're used to it - big! The used-to-be "overweight" now becomes "normal" or "average."

Perhaps you feel OK to be overweight since it's accepted in your circle of friends - all of them are like me or even bigger.

So what's the big deal that I just have "a little" belly fat?! I feel OK, better than my friends with "big" pot belly or beer gut. You can comfort youself by thinking that I still have my six pack abs underneath that thick layer of abdominal fat. They're just covered.

Well, "a little" can grow slightly bigger, and then bigger and bigger if you don't take care of yourself. Fat isn't accumulated in one day or a month. You don't just go out to binge for one night, and boom, you gain 10 pounds of weight (fat) overnight. All big starts from small over a period of time.

Out of excess body fat in different body areas, belly fat is the most dangerous and is more deadly than you think. There are many health risks associated with excess belly fat. For most men, the risk factors for heart disease and other diseases increase with a waist size over 40 inches (102 centimeters).

In the following article, Mike Geary, the founder of TruthAboutAbs.com, explained why excess belly fat is more deadly than you think and how you can minimize your health risks. Mike is the six-pack-abs guru, a certified nutrition specialist and personal trainer.

By Mike Geary, Truth About Abs:

Did you know that the vast majority of people in this day and age have excess abdominal fat?The first thing that most people think of is that their extra abdominal fat is simply ugly, is covering up their abs from being visible, and makes them self conscious about showing off their body.

However, what most people don't realize is that excess abdominal fat in particular, is not only ugly, but is also a dangerous risk factor to your health. Scientific research has clearly demonstrated that although it is unhealthy in general to have excess body fat throughout your body, it is also particularly dangerous to have excess abdominal fat.

There are two types of fat that you have in your abdominal area. The first type that covers up your abs from being visible is called subcutaneous fat and lies directly beneath the skin and on top of the abdominal muscles.

The second type of fat that you have in your abdominal area is called visceral fat, and that lies deeper in the abdomen beneath your muscle and surrounding your organs. Visceral fat also plays a role in giving certain men that "beer belly" appearance where their abdomen protrudes excessively but at the same time, also feels sort of hard if you push on it.

Both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat in the abdominal area are serious health risk factors, but science has shown that having excessive visceral fat is even more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Both of them greatly increase the risk your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer, and other degenerative diseases.

Part of the reason visceral fat is particularly dangerous is that it apparently releases more inflammatory molecules into your body on a consistent basis.

If you care about the quality of your life and your loved ones, reducing your abdominal fat should be one of your TOP priorities! There's just no way around it. Besides, a side-effect of finally getting rid of all of that excessive ugly abdominal fat is that your stomach will flatten out, and if you lose enough stomach fat, you will be able to visibly see those sexy six pack abs that everyone wants.

So what gets rid of extra abdominal fat? Is there actually a REAL solution beyond all of the gimmicks and hype that you see in ads and on commercials for "miracle" fat loss products?

The first thing you must understand is that there is absolutely NO quick fix solution.

There are no pills or supplements of any sort that will help you lose your abdominal fat faster. Also, none of the gimmicky ab rockers, rollers, or ab belts will help get rid of abdominal fat either. You can't spot reduce your stomach fat by using any of these worthless contraptions. It simply doesn't work that way.

The ONLY solution to consistently lose your abdominal fat and keep it off for good is to combine a sound nutritious diet full of unprocessed natural foods with a properly designed strategic exercise program that stimulates the necessary hormonal and metabolic response within your body. Both your food intake as well as your training program are important if you are to get this right.

I've actually even seen a particular study that divided thousands of participants into a diet-only group and an exercise/diet group. While both groups in this study made good progress, the diet-only group lost significantly LESS abdominal fat than the diet & exercise combined group.

Now the important thing to realize is that just any old exercise program will not necessarily do the trick. The majority of people that attempt getting into a good exercise routine are NOT working out effectively enough to really stimulate the loss of stubborn abdominal fat. I see this everyday at the gym. Most people will do your typical boring ineffective cardio routines, throw in a little outdated body-part style weight training, and pump away with some crunches and side bends, and think that they are doing something useful for reducing their abdominal fat. Then they become frustrated after weeks or months of no results and wonder where they went wrong.

Well, the good news is that I've spent over a decade researching this topic, analyzing the science, and applying it "in the trenches" with myself as well as thousands of my clients from all over the world to see what works to really stimulate abdominal fat loss. The entire solution... all of the nutritional strategies, as well as training sequences, exercise combinations, and more have all been compiled in my Truth About Six Pack Abs Program.

Keep in mind that the point of this whole program is NOT abdominal exercises (that is only a very small portion of it). The main point of this program is showing you the absolute most effective strategies for losing your stubborn abdominal fat, so you can get rid of that dangerous health risk, as well as get a flatter more defined midsection. If you follow the guidelines, you WILL lose your belly fat that has been plaguing you for years. This is not guesswork... it is a proven system that works time and time again for all of my clients on every corner of the globe that actually apply the information I teach. If you apply it, the results will come. It's really that simple.

The only reason most people fail in their fitness goals is that they have good intentions at first to adopt a new lifestyle, yet after a few weeks or months, they abandon their good intentions and slip right back into their old bad habits that gave them the excess body fat in the first place. I want to help you succeed in finally getting rid of that extra abdominal fat that is not only UGLY, but also DANGEROUS. Don't waste another day allowing that nasty abdominal fat to kill your confidence as well as contribute to your risk for MAJOR diseases.

Get the solution to rid yourself for life of this belly fat problem at Truth About Abs.

>>> Sign up for FREE monthly e-Newsletter to receive insider training tips, workout routines and check out your FREE bonus e-books to help you build muscles, lose fat and uncover your six pack abs.

Do You Really Weigh What You Actually Weigh?

Look at yourself in the full-length mirror.

You think your weight is OK? Perhaps just a little pot belly, expanded waistline, love handles, a few extra pounds --- but, hey, better than the next door Big Joe's beer gut.

What does the weight scale reading tell you?

Are you in the healthy weight range?

Are you aware of the health risks associated with overweight and obesity, particularly excessive belly fat?

Are you comfortable with your current weight?

According to a research study authored by Bennett and Wolin, most overweight and obese people underestimate their "perceived" bodyweight compared to their "real" bodyweight.

Although there are differences among races and genders, overweight and obese people "think" that they weigh less than they really are. In fact, they weight more than their "perceived" bodyweight.

This weight "misconception" becomes accepted in these overweight or obese people due to sociocultural influences among many possible reasons.

The study group sent out a standard perceived weight question to participlants, "Do you consider yourself now to be overweight, underweight, or about the right weight?" All participants are overweight or obese. They are divided into groups by gender (Men or Women) by race/ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic or Other).

There is a great debate in the health community on classification of weight status by Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is still the single most straightfoward and conveneint measurement for research purposes. A complimentary body fat and girth measurements would give an more accurate body composition and fat distribution.

Do you know your BMI? Find out here >>

A well muscled person could be wrongly classified as overweight (BMI greater than 25) with just 8% body fat. BMI alone has its limitations, but a relatively reliable tool for tracking overweight and obesity rates. If you're lean and fit, don't worry too much about your BMI number.

Read more about BMI and body fat >>

The study utilized standard thresholds to classify individuals as normal/underweight (BMI less than 25), overweight (BMI larger than or equal to 25, but less than 30) or obese (BMI larger than or equal to 30)

Here are their findings:

Across racial/ethnic categories, men were more likely to misperceive their weight status than women.

Comparing racial/ethnic categories, for both men and women, Blacks were most likely and White were least likely to misperceive their weight status.

For both men and women across racial/ethnic categories, the weight staus misconception was higher among overweight than obese participants.

The U.S. adult population is estimated over 65% overweight or obese. U.S. obesity rates are still rising every year with no sign of slowing down. So today when you say or think that you're about "average", you are actually at least slightly overweight.

When we're surrounded by more and more overweight or obese people around us, our brain slowly perceives and accepts the overweight body image as the norm. It could become culturally and socially acceptable of higher bodyweight and heavier body shapes. It's a problem when people fail to realize the health risks associated with overweight or obesity.

Learn how to fight obesity here >>

You can argue that you do have muscles here and there. In fact, you're likely to have excess body fat here and there as well unless you've been seriously weight-training or bodybuilding. That's why body fat measurement along with BMI and lean muscle mass would give a more accurate body composition.

Don't underestimate the power of your friends, particularly the five of your closest friends, in your weight loss program. The acceptance or intolerance of unhealthy habits in your circle of friends could break or win your weight loss battle. Hire a fitness coach. Pick your own fitness mastermind support group. Surround yourself with health-conscious and fitness-minded people.

The secret to weight loss is no secret at all. It's not weight training, cardio exercise, or eating healthy. They are all important essential elements to your weight loss success. The fundamental key is your performance lifestyle.

Correcting mispeceptions of weight status may be necessary to actively and successfully engage overweight and obese individuals. As with what Bennett commented, "We think that mispercention can be very useful when it comes to protecting people against overly stringent body image ideals and eating disorders."

The study findings suggest that information and concern about obesity epidemic in the U.S. hasn't had enough impact on overweight people's recognition of their excess pounds.

More education is needed to raise the awareness of overweight and obesity and importance of losing excess bodyweight or fat. It's more than just for healthy body image, but lowering health risks and social cost.

References:
Bennett, G.G., Wolin, K.Y., "Satisfied or unaware? Racial differences in perceived weight status," IJBNPA, 3:40, 2006. http://www.ijnapa.org/content/3/1/40

>>> Sign up for FREE monthly e-Newsletter to receive insider training tips, workout routines and check out your FREE bonus e-books to help you build muscles, lose fat and uncover your six pack abs.