Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), osteoarthritis and some cancers. Obesity is measured with a Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI shows the relationship of weight to height. Women with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while women with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. All adults (aged 18 years or older) who have a BMI of 25 or more are considered at risk for premature death and disability from being overweight or obese. These health risks increase as the BMI rises. Your health care provider can help you figure out your body mass or go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm. Not only are health care providers concerned about how much fat a person has, but also where the fat is located on the body. Women with a "pear" shape tend to store fat in their hips and buttocks. Women with an "apple" shape store fat around their waists. For most women, carrying extra weight around their waists or middle (with a waist larger than 35 inches) raises health risks (like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer) more than carrying extra weight around their hips or thighs. Fifty percent of adult African American women are obese. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can lower your risk for many diseases. And physical activity is an important part of weight loss treatment. Try to be active (30 minutes most days of the week is best) and eat better to help prevent and treat obesity.

Publications

1. Embrace Your Health! Lose Weight if You Are Overweight - This booklet provides specific information on reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and identifies steps to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans.

2. Exercise: How to Get Started (Copyright © AAFP) - This fact sheet discusses why you should exercise, who should exercise, and how to get started.

3. Physical Activity and Health, A Report of the Surgeon General: Fact Sheet - Women - This report of the Surgeon General addresses the benefits of physical activity for women.

4. Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals - This colorful book provides information to assist families in purchasing and preparing healthy, thrifty meals that meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Food Guide Pyramid. The book contains two sample meal plans (consisting of two weekly menus, 40 recipes, and two food lists), tips for shopping, cooking healthfully and keeping food safe.

5. Spice Up Your Life! Eat Less Salt and Sodium - This booklet provides information on the benefits of low sodium diets and identifies steps to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans.

6. Staying Healthy at 50+ - This guide describes ways that people over 50 can stay healthy. It gives information on the prevention of major diseases or conditions through living habits, screening tests, and immunizations.

7. Walking...A Step in the Right Direction - This publication contains information about how to start your own walking and exercise program.

8. Walking: Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better - This publication covers the health benefits of walking and it informs women on how to start a walking program.

Organizations

1. American Heart Association

2. Black Women's Health Online

3. CDC's WISEWOMAN™ - Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation

4. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, FCS, FNCS, USDA

5. Food and Nutrition Information Center, NAL, USDA

6. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS

7. Nutrition.Gov

8. Office on Women's Health, HHS

9. Weight Control Information Network, NIDDK, NIH, HHS

Related Topics

Health
Healthy
Health Care

African American
Africa
Disease