What is obesity, and why is it a problem?
Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat - especially in your waist area - you're at higher risk for health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.

There are several alarming statistics about obesity in the United States that speak to this ever-increasing health issue:

• Sixty-six percent of people in the United States are overweight or obese.
• Health care expenditures are thirty-six percent higher for obese people than for those who are not obese.
• Obesity leads to increases in diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

For more information about obesity and weight management, click on the links below:
American Heart Association
US Food and Drug Administration
WebMD
Mayo Clinic

How can New Heart help me with weight management?

• We can help you design an individually-tailored exercise program, appropriate to your current physical fitness level.
• Our registered dietician can meet with you to discuss weight management, including meal planning and grocery shopping tips. New Heart periodically hosts mindful eating classes, which are facilitated by faculty from the University of New Mexico's Integrative Medicine program.
• We periodically offer weight management classes, depending on interest and facilitator availability.
• We can help you learn more about reaching and maintaining a healthy weight that is right for you.

Are you not sure how much you should weigh? Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) by clicking on the link.