Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 18)
by AllisON thOmAs
Lighten
Losing even
a little weight
can make a
HUGE difference
in your health
Obesity
by the Numbers
2/3are overweight or obese.
1/ are obese.
of adults in the United States
3
(That’snearlythreetimesasmanyasin1960,
when13.4percentwereobese.)
In 2011, 12 states had an obesity prevalence of
30percentormore.
By comparison, a decade earlier
NO states were at 30 percent or more.
18
S PRIng 2 013
up
The Ups and downs of weighT Loss
Losing weight does more than shrink your jeans size.
Even a 5 percent weight loss can:
Down with the BaD
• Reduce diabetes risk
• Decrease LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol
• Lower blood pressure
• Cut stroke risk
• Reduce pressure on joints
and osteoarthritis risk
• Reduce sleep apnea risk
• Increase energy levels
• Potentially increase HDL
(“good”) cholesterol
• M ake movement
(and thus exercise) easier
• Improve mood
• Boost confidence
• Enhance sleep quality
Up with the GooD
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