Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape

Posted: Nov. 1, 2005

Are you an apple or a pear shape?
Your health is at risk not only by the amount of body fat you have, but also by where the fat is located. You have an apple shape if you tend to gain weight mostly in the waist (stomach) area. Pear-shaped figures tend to gain weight around the hips and buttocks.

Apple shapes have an increased risk of heart disease – so they need to take extra care to maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight is due to more calories being consumed than used. If you need to lose weight, your calorie intake must be less than the calories you burn.

Regular exercise and eating a balanced diet will help you to stay fit and burn more calories. Avoid fad diets that offer unrealistic results and encourage eating (or not eating) specific foods. Remember, if you lose weight gradually you are more likely to keep it off.

Why lose the weight?
Extra weight means that the heart has to work harder to supply blood to the body. It significantly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Excess weight also increases your likelihood of developing other problems which contribute to the risk of heart disease and stroke:

High blood pressure: An overweight person has a two to six times greater risk of developing high blood pressure.
High blood cholesterol: Your level of cholesterol is affected by the amount of saturated fats eaten every day. If you are overweight, you are at greater risk.
Diabetes Type 2: Most people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Source: World Heart Federation

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