Adult Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), obesity is a label for a range of weight that is greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The term also identifies ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

For adults, obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Do you know what your BMI?
Does your BMI indicate that you are obese?
If you are considered obese, what, if anything, are you doing about it?

Speaking personally and according to a BMI calculator (bmicheck.org), I have a BMI of 40.1 so I am considered Obese III and the site recommended weight loss surgery. Now, weight loss surgery is not a consideration for me and I have already shed 38 lbs since September 2011. And I am still working on my weight!

Depending on which State you reside, obesity levels are greater in some as opposed to others. Below are the obesity levels by State according to a report published by the CDC that looked a the time period from 1985 - 2010:

Alabama - 32.2%; Alaska - 24.5%; Arizona - 24.3%; Arkansas - 30.1
California - 24.0%; Colorado - 21.0%; Connecticut - 22.5%
Delaware - 28.0%; District of Columbia - 22.2%
Florida (my home state) - 26.6%
Georgia - 29.6%
Hawaii - 22.7%
Idaho - 26.5%; Illinois - 28.2%; Indiana - 29.6%; Iowa - 28.4%
Kansas - 29.4%; Kentucky - 31.3%
Louisiana - 31.0%
Maine - 26.8%; Massachusetts - 23.0%; Michigan - 30.9%; Minnesota 24.8%; Mississippi - 34.0%; Missouri - 30.5%; Montana - 23.0%
Nebraska - 26.9%; Nevada - 22.4%; New Hampshire - 25.0%; New Jersey - 23.8%; New Mexico - 25.1%; New York - 23.9%; North Carolina - 27.8%; North Dakota - 27.2%
Ohio - 29.2%; Oklahoma - 30.4%; Oregon - 26.8%;
Pennsylvania - 28.6%
Rhode Island - 25.5%
South Carolina - 31.5%; South Dakota - 27.3%
Tennessee - 30.8%; Texas (where I reside now) - 31.0%
Utah - 22.5%
Vermont - 23.2%; Virginia - 26.0%
Washington - 25.5%; West Virginia - 32.5%; Wisconsin - 26.3%; and Wyoming - 25.1%.

Some of these could have changed since the report was published, but you now have a visual of why obesity is an epidemic in the United States!

Which State do you reside? And, what is the obesity rate of the State's in which you have friends or relatives?

Again, if you are obese, what (if anything) are you doing about the problem. I personally do not want to be a member of the epidemic and I know that will take some hard work (because nothing happens overnight), which I am willing to do. It has to start somewhere!

Good luck and see you next week.