Benefits of weight loss and being healthy
• Blood Pressure: High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure.
• Cholesterol: A blood cholesterol level over 240 mg/dl (milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood) approximately doubles the risk of coronary heart disease: about 20% of the U.S. adult population (37.2.) falls into this category. Blood cholesterol levels between 200 and 240 mg/dl are in a zone of moderate and increasing risk. An estimated 26.7 mln. (37%) of youths age 19 and under have levels of 170 mg/dl or higher, comparable to a level of 200 mg/dl in adults.
• Cigarettes: Cigarette smokers have more than twice the risk of heart attack and 2-4 times the risk of sudden cardiac death as nonsmokers. Young smokers have a higher risk for early death from stroke.
• Obesity: 60 mln. adults are 20% or more over their desirable weight (32% of white males, 31.5% of black males, 33.5% of white females, 49.6% of black females).
July 04 2008 01:31 pm | healthy nutrition and weight loss tips