FOOD AND HEALTH: The Biggest Loser--An Inspiration to the Obese
How do you go from humongous to fit? It seems so impossibly hard, especially for the obese. But NBC's reality t.v. show, "The Biggest Loser" has become an inspiration to many people in the world who has an obesity problem.
According to Wikipedia, obesity is a medical condition by which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems such as, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing difficulty during sleep, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, etc. This condition is commonly achieved by excessive dietary calories and lack of physical activity. It may also be a result of genetic susceptibility and in a few cases, by endocrine disorders (like Oprah, so she said), by medications or psychiatric illness.
Obesity is determined by a measurement of our BMI (Body Mass Index), measured by kg/m2, which is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms(your body mass) by the square of your height in meters. For example, a man who weighs 146 kg. and has a height of 177 cm., here's the computation:
146 kg. = 146 kg.
1.77m x 1.77m = 3.13 m
146/3.13 = 47 kg/m2 BMI, which makes that person morbidly obese.
Here's Wikipedia's Classification Chart for BMI:
BMI (kg/m2) Classification
Less than 18.5 Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 Normal weight
25.0 - 29.9 Overweight
30.0 - 34.9 Class 1 Obesity
35.0 - 39.9 Class 2 Obesity or Severe Obesity
40.0 - 44.9 Class 3 Obesity or Morbid Obesity
45.0 and above Super Obese
The primary treatment for obesity is, of course, dieting and physical exercise. But there are some who resort to anti-obesity drugs and even to bariatric surgery (gastric banding, meaning the stomach is ligated or diverted).
Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Yes, "preventable" because there is a treatment. In the U.S., First Lady Michele Obama campaigns against childhood obesity, perhaps because she believes that if at an early age one has the will power to control eating habits and has the will power to exercise, you can also do it when you are an adult. Yes, again, the will power is the issue why obese people remain in their condition, even for the non-obese. That is why "The Biggest Loser" is a great inspiration booster for many, worldwide, because if those oh so big people can diet and really exercise, I can also do it. Right now, this program has syndications all over the world--Australia, Japan, Asia, etc., because it is a great program to fight obesity in the world. Also, their web pages and web clubs offer many ideas regarding diets and exercise routines. What's more? During the finale, your eyes would gape from the before and after images that you'd never imagine could happen to a super obese, looking hopeless before, but looking great after. But they'd never look great without the hard work through physical exercise and the determination to choose and eat the right food. After that, you need the determination to continue doing what you're doing to maintain your figure and health. Hey, the contestants in "The Biggest Loser" always have doctor's supervision. Therefore, if you're obese, consult your doctor first before going through the diet and exercise routine.
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