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Spring 2005 What is the Difference Between Overweight and Obese?
The standard used by researchers to define a person's weight according to their height is “body mass index” (BMI). Adults are considered “overweight” when their BMI is between 25—29.9.
An adult with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. To check your BMI, go to http://www.aahs.org/healthinfo/index.php and click on the BMI calculator box.
Fad Diets
Like most everything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, then, rest assured, it is. According to experts from the Wellness Corporation of American, here are some guidelines for avoiding fad diets.
- Diets that include magic or miracle foods that burn fat.
- Diets that require bizarre quantities of only one food type.
- Diets that require rigid menus.
- Diets based on specific food combinations.
- Diets that proclaim rapid weight loss of more than two lbs. a week.
- Diets that provide no warning for those with diabetes or high blood pressure to first seek advice of a of a physician.
Is it worth it? (nope)
- One small chocolate chip cookie (50 calories) is equivalent to walking briskly for 10 minutes.
- The difference between a large gourmet chocolate chip cookie and a small chocolate chip cookie could be about 40 minutes of raking leaves (200 calories).
- One hour of walking at a moderate pace (20 min./mile) uses about the same amount of energy that is in one jelly-filled doughnut (300 calories).
- A fast food “meal” containing a double-patty cheeseburger, extra-large fries and a 24 oz. soft drink is equal to running 2 1/2 hours at a 10 min./mile pace (1,500 calories).
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
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