In 2008 67.9% of the population of Trinidad & Tobago was overweight or obese. Those numbers are increasing rapidly. There is nothing genetic that can explain the rapid rise of obesity and overweight that is exploding across the globe. The cause, however, can be found on our own tables, and in our own takeout containers.

In the next 5 nuggets, we are going to explore overweight and obesity, and principles of healthy weight loss. So come join me as we look at this important topic.

If you are overweight or obese, you are at risk for developing diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Individuals who are overweight or obese are also more prone to develop depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor school attendance. So it is not just an issue of looks, there is a lot more to it.

So why is there such an increasing problem with overweight and obesity in today’s society? We can see that overweight and obesity has increased during the same time that the fast food industry spread across the globe and the entertainment industry became increasingly popular. There is a direct correlation between the increased consumption of processed foods (like most fast foods which are high in calories but low in nutrients) and the development of overweight and obesity. Similarly, there is a direct correlation between the time one spends in inactive entertainment (like TV, movies, and video games) and the development of overweight and obesity.

There are certain genetic and metabolic factors that may influence one’s ability to lose weight, but this is the exception rather than the rule. For the vast majority of people, increasing calorie expenditure (i.e. exercise) and decreasing calorie intake (i.e. diet) will remedy the problem.

How do you know if you’re overweight? Well, one way is that if you look like most people around you, you are overweight. For an person that is 5 feet tall, normal weight is between 95 and 127 pounds. If you are 5 feet 6 inches tall, normal is between 115 and 154 pounds. And if you are 6 feet tall, normal is between137 and 183 pounds.

For your ideal body weight, allow 108 pounds for the first 5 feet of your height, and then add 4 pound for each additional inch.

As we continue this topic of overweight and obesity next time, we will start to look at the principles of healthy weight loss.

God bless you abundantly as you learn to live God’s WELLNESS way.