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November 2016
YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO HEALTH CARE AWARENESS
Doctor’s
Bag
Tips for Reducing
Your Risk for Obesity
DidUKnow?
Because so many factors
contribute to obesity,
there are a variety of
considerations and
strategies you should
consider to reduce your risk
for the disease. According
to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) you should:
According to the CDC,
Evaluate Your Weight
There are screening tools, such as the calculation
of your Body Mass Index (BMI) that can help you
evaluate your potential disease risk by estimating
your level of body fat. You should contact your
doctor if you believe you have a high BMI or are
concerned about obesity.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
It is important to maintain a healthy weight
throughout your life and avoid excessive weight gain.
Maintaining a healthy weight will not only reduce
your risk of obesity but it can also lower your risk for
many other diseases and medical conditions.
Healthy Eating Habits
The key to maintaining a healthy weight and
reducing your risk of obesity is positive lifestyle
changes, including healthy eating habits. Life-long
habits require a firm commitment to eating more
wholesome, nutrient-rich foods and cutting out
processed foods with no nutritional value.
Exercising Regularly
Along with healthy eating habits, regular physical
activity is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and
reducing your risk for obesity. Exercising regularly
can keep your body functioning normally and also
reduce your risk for other diseases and health issues.
Being proactive about your overall health, including
your eating habits and physical activity levels, is your
best defense against obesity and other health issues.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about your overall
health and how you can reduce your risk for obesity.
Claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company.
OBESITY STATISTICS
•More than one-third, or 34.9%
of U.S. adults are obese.
•Obesity-related conditions,
such as heart disease,
stroke and type 2 diabetes,
are some of the leading
causes of preventable
deaths.
•Obesity is highest among
middle age adults, 40-59
years old.
•Among African-American
and Mexican-American
men, those with higher
incomes are more likely to
be obese than those with
lower incomes.
•Higher-income women are
less like to be obese than
lower-income women.
•Approximately 17% of
children and adolescents
ages 2-19 are obese.
•Overall, children whose
adult head of household
completed college are
approximately half as likely
to be obese as those whose
head of household did not
complete high school.
Information Sources
CDC.gov, Adult Obesity Causes &
Consequences (August 2016): https://www.
cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html
CDC.gov, Data & Statistics (August 2016):
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html
Cancer.org, Strategies to Prevent Obesity
(August 2016): https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/
strategies/index.html
OBESITY
CONSEQUENCES
Widely regarded as an
epidemic affecting a large
portion of the world’s
population, obesity can
be attributed to a variety
of factors, making it a
complicated problem to
solve. Individual factors such
as diet, physical activity
or inactivity and the use
of certain medications can
cause obesity, but there are
also other factors, such as
environment, that contribute to
the disease.
Not only is obesity linked to
a reduced quality of life and
poorer mental health outcomes,
it also increases your risk for
a number of serious health
conditions such as:
• Certain cancers
•Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
•Stroke
• Coronary heart disease
• Gallbladder disease
•Sleep apnea and breathing
problems
The CDC has a variety of tools
and resources for individuals
struggling with obesity as
well as for parents who are
concerned with childhood
obesity. Visit their website at
www.cdc.gov to learn more.