Are you like most patients? Do you wonder and want to ask, “Why is
it so important to get on the scale when I go to see my healthcare provider?”
There is a medical reason --- it’s called OBESITY.
Obesity is defined as excess body fat and is measured in terms of Body
Mass Index (BMI) which is a height and weight calculation that gives a
number used to predict an individual’s health risk. A normal BMI
is in the range of 20 to 24.9 and the range of 25 to 29.9 is considered
overweight. Obesity is a BMI of 30 or higher; unfortunately, it is proven,
the higher the BMI, the higher the health risk. Obesity has now passed
cigarette smoking as the leading cause of health problems in the United States!
The 2016 data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that 31.5%
of Americans 18 years old and older are obese, and 34.8 % of that same
adult population is overweight. This leaves only 33.7% of adults at normal
weight. However, in Fayette County, adult obesity is at 33% which comes
in higher than the state and national average!
Unfortunately, obesity is not just an adult issue. Childhood obesity has
more than doubled in the past 3 decades! The current rate of obesity among
2 to 4 year olds is 13% and we see that rate continue through high school.
Obesity is associated with multiple health risks which includes: decreased
overall life expectancy, high blood pressure, lipid abnormalities, diabetes,
stroke, heart attack and coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease,
sleep apnea and breathing disorders, low quality of life, cancer, depression,
and physical pain.
There are now 13 cancers known to be associated with obesity including
cancer of the uterus, breast, gallbladder, liver, kidney, and colon.
Obesity causes menstrual problems and infertility.
Obesity increases surgical risk and causes poorer surgical outcomes including
poor healing and increased infection rates.
Obesity is not good for adults -- not good for our children – not
good for our community! So what can we do about it! Where do we start?
At
RESOLUTION: HEALTH, the Fayette County Memorial Hospital health focused open house on January 31st, we will be checking weights and heights and calculating BMIs. Yes, that
means getting on the scale! But, it also means that we are here to help!
We will not only let you know your BMI but we will also give you information
to help you start moving towards a healthier BMI. FCMH will partner with
you by providing education on healthy eating and healthy activities. You
can meet Dr. Marta Gryniuk, physician leader of FCMH’s
Walk with a Doc, who will motivate you to get up and walking! Randy Taylor, LPN will provide
information about health coaching and healthy changes. In addition, there
will be lots of information about services Fayette County Memorial Hospital
and the FCMH Medical Surgical Associates provide to help the community
be healthy. We hope you will join us in the MAB 2 Community Room, 1510
Columbus Avenue, WCH from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Remember
– all the above is at
no charge!
We know it isn’t always easy to live a healthy lifestyle. We also
know how hard it is, physically and emotionally, to be unhealthy. After
all, we are people too! We struggle just as much as the rest of our community
to lose weight and to exercise and to be healthy. In 2018 let’s
struggle, and succeed, together! Hey, what have you got to lose?