The Legal Examiner Affiliate Network The Legal Examiner The Legal Examiner The Legal Examiner search instagram avvo phone envelope checkmark mail-reply spinner error close The Legal Examiner The Legal Examiner The Legal Examiner
Skip to main content

Did you overindulge at the 4th of July bar-b-que?  New research says those extra pounds may be worse for your health than you might imagine.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine, showed that just a single-unit increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) – just 7 pounds for a 5’9″, 180 man – raises the risk of congestive heart failure by 20%.  The increased BMI causes heart failure through effects on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid levels in addition to an increased workload on the heart.

BMI is a good indicator of overall health, but it’s not perfect.  BMI fails to take into account type of tissue it measures.  Meaning a weight lifter or other athlete may have a similar BMI to an overweight couch potato.  The concern is body fat – not lean muscle tissue.  So in addition to BMI, be sure to check your pant size or even your mirror.

The good news is that even a moderate level of activity has tremendous effects.   Regular physical activity – even taking a brisk walk – can reduce the risk of obesity by nearly half.  Regular exercise also has positive effects on cognitive ability and brain activity.

For those looking to shed those unhealthy pounds, another study found that dieters were more likely to lose weight if they targeted a range of weight loss rather than a single number.  Setting a range – rather than a single number – offers multiple goals that dieters view as challenging yet attainable, which increases motivation.

So, if you ate a little to much at the family bbq, balance it out with a walk around the neighborhood or a pick-up game with the kids.

Read More:

© Copyright 2013 Brett A. Emison

Follow @BrettEmison on Twitter.

 

Comments for this article are closed.