Lose weight safely

Losing weight reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and many other illnesses. But how to lose weight ? Here are some basic guidelines to lose weight safely, according to the US department of health and human services :

Exercise for about thirty minutes, most days of the week. This will help burn more calories. If you use up the day’s calories and some from that stored in the fat, you will lose some of that extra pound.

Eat less fat and sugar. Fried foods, tempting fatty deserts and similar high calorie foods can add your calories, without providing the required nutrients.

Eat a wide variety of foods. The wide variety of foods are available, not just for satisfying your taste buds, but for charging your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Be careful of weight loss programs, whose promises are too good to be true.

Before embarking on a weight loss program, ask your doctor to help you set realistic goals for safe weight loss.

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Weight loss program - Why you need ?

Many studies have been undertaken, to study the effects of obesity on health. The conclusions of these studies are almost on the same lines. Obesity and overweight affect the general health , in many different ways.

A recent study, undertaken by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health , has found the strong association between obesity and smoking to erectile dysfunction, reports Science daily news. Both smoking and obesity were associated with a higher risk of the development of Erectile dysfunction ( ED ). ( Obesity was defined as a body mass index of more than 30. The body mass index is weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in
meters ). Regular physical activity appeared to have a significant impact on lowering the risk of ED.

Such studies would not have meant anything to me, when I was young. The young tend to think that the youth , energy, vitality are for ever. But it is not ! Your parents will vouch for it. Many diseases , which are supposed to be ‘old age disease ’ , strike the young now. Even the children are not exception , as the obesity in children has become a major concern worldwide . So act today, before it catches up with you.

Choose some weight loss programs , that is best for you.

Weight loss - Do you need ?

The health problems posed by obesity and over weight conditions are well known. Apart from the various health problems, over weight restricts the physical activity and your very mobility.

But what is over weight ? Is it a comparison between persons ? If you compare yourself with a well shaped and maintained model or an actor, you may look over weight. How to know ? There are well established ways.

There are three factors, to assess your risk, according to the National heart , Lung and blood Institute.

1. Body mass Index : It is a reliable indicator of total body fat , which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women, but with limitations for athletes and older persons. Calculate your BMI, to check your condition.

2. Waist Circumference : Measure your waist circumference with a measuring tape. . This risk increases with a waist measurement of over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women

3. Additional risk factors : High blood pressure (hypertension), high LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) , low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), high triglycerides, high blood glucose (sugar) , family history of premature heart disease, physical inactivity , cigarette smoking

After going through these steps, if you find yourself in the overweight or obese category, you need to plan for weight loss program , weight loss supplements , after consulting your doctor.