Living Well and Healthy, Part 2

As we had discussed last week, maintaining a healthful body weight requires eating a balanced diet, getting regular physical activity and learning to feel great about your body.

Heredity, according to Kemper, plays a big role in your body shape and what you weigh.  It would be impossible for most of us to look like fashion models or world-class athletes, but we can all learn to appreciate our bodies and treat them well to maximize our health and self-esteem.

Have a Healthful Weight.  Your health is determined by more than just your weight.  Other measures of health include:

• Your fitness level.
• The quality of your diet and your eating habits.
• The presence of disease indicators such as high cholesterol.
• Family history of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
• How fat is distributed on your body.
• Your self-esteem and body image.

You can improve your health without changing your weight.  The amount you weigh now could become a healthful weight for you.

Most people are concerned about being overweight, but for some people being underweight is a health concern.  Being obese can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, some cancers, and other long-term illnesses. Losing as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight can lower you blood pressure, reduce other risk factors for heart disease, and improve your blood sugar levels.

Set Realistic Goals.  Before you start a weight management program, think about your goals, your expectations, and your readiness to make lifestyle changes.  A realistic weight management program should focus on the following:

• Reducing your risk of health problems.
• Increasing your fitness level by becoming more physically active.
• Making positive lifestyle changes that will become lifelong habits.
• Coming to accept the size and shape of your body.

(More timely health tips from Kaiser Permanente and Healthwise will appear in our succeeding blog postings. – J.P.)