14 Aug One-third of Americans are obese, but it doesn’t have to be that way

New numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are out regarding obesity in the U.S. and they don’t add up to good news.
More than 33 percent of American adults and 17 percent of children are obese, according to figures recently reported from the CDC.
It provides evidence of a continuing health crisis in our country as obesity triggers chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
Colorado was the slimmest state in the nation with just a 20.7 percent obesity rate in data collected by the CDC, while Mississippi was the heaviest at 34.9 percent.
At Home Fitness is based out of Arizona, which fared well in the study with a No. 11 ranking among the fittest states with a 25 percent obesity rate. Ohio, where this fitness blogger lives, ranks 16th at 29.6 percent.
People with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher are considered obese. A rough estimate of what a normal weight is for a 6-foot male is between 137-184 pounds, meaning 185-224 is considered overweight and 225-plus is obese.
However, it’s important to note that muscle weighs more than fat and to properly gauge your actual BMI a doctor or licensed physical trainer should calculate your percentage.
It’s disappointing to see such high obesity rates, but encouraging to hear that states across the country are putting more of an emphasis than ever on trying to get people to exercise and eat right.
Examples are creation and renovation of parks and rails to trails walking/biking paths, and public relations campaigns to spread the word about the importance of exercising and eating right.
Even exercising just three times a week for 30 minutes can have major benefits for people’s health.
Walk or jog outside or on a treadmill, ride a bike, or even work briskly in the yard to get your heart rate up and burn calories. And, of course, eating right is essential to getting and staying in good shape.
About one-third of the people in the U.S. are obese, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Taking the first step toward getting in shape is often the hardest. Make that move today.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com