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The number of obese Americans began rising steadily in the 1980s and ’90s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Right now, the CDC says the number of obese adults is 97 million, more than one-third of all adults in the United States. In addition, nearly 13 million children are obese, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Obesity is based on body mass index, or BMI, but the definitions for youth and adults are not comparable. Health risk is the cut point for adults, while with children and youth, it is statistical and based on a comparison of the reference population. Researchers estimated that 67.6 million Americans over the age of 25 in 2012 had a BMI of more than 30, which is considered obese. That’s more than the estimated 65.2 million with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 who were considered overweight.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses these guidelines for body mass index, which relates weight to height:

• If BMI is less than 18.5, you are underweight

• If BMI is 18.5 to <25, your weight is normal

• If BMI is 25.0 to <30, you are overweight

• If BMI is 30.0 or higher, you are obese

Obesity has three classes: 30 to <35; 35 to <40; 40 and higher, extreme obesity.

However, you can go to smartbmicalculator.com and get more specific results. This BMI program looks at age, height, and sex, adjusting especially for older persons. For example, slight to moderate overweight is 40/70-49/70, which is between 40-49 points out of 70.

Florida is No. 20 among the fattest states in the country, according to Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group working to save lives by protecting the health of communities as well as making disease prevention a national priority.

As of September 2016, adult obesity rates exceeded 35 percent in four states. Louisiana has the highest rate at 36.2 percent, and Colorado the lowest with 20.2 percent.

The medical cost for this problem is estimated to be as high as $147 billion. To break it down to individuals, people who are obese spend $1,429 more on medical bills than those who are in the normal weight range.

The AHA says recent studies show most obese individuals have less ability or willpower to turn away from food cues. They react differently to smells and visual stimuli.

Watching a food commercial or having someone else in the room eat something triggers hunger cues for these people.

It has also been proved that when people with these issues try to eat less, their body’s appetite actually increases and they’re less satisfied with what they have eaten.

Dining out is an issue, too. The increased variety of good-tasting food readily available in large portions, and decreased physical movement, means weight gain. Studies have also shown that sleep patterns affect weight, as does stress. Even the temperature in your home or workplace may affect your body.

Dr. Christopher Calapai, a boardcertified osteopathic physician in family and anti-aging medicine, believes people are bombarded with ways to lose weight.

“People are dealing with dieting information overload,” Dr. Calapai says. “It is hard to know what is sound weight loss advice and what is myth.”

An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet every year and spend $33 billion on weight-loss products, according to Dr. Calapai. “Yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese.

With all that money expended, why are so many people unable to lose weight?”

He believes much of it comes from taking these diet myths as absolute truths, even though they don’t work as promised:

• You can eat whatever you want if you work out.

• Organic food is diet food.

• You can lose 10 pounds in two weeks.

• Cleanses and detoxes are a good way to jump-start a diet.

• You can’t eat after 8pm.

• You must keep your blood sugar topped up, and eat little and often to achieve that.

• Wait until you’re hungry to eat.

Most physicians and health professionals agree that a lifestyle change is more important than dieting. Making that lifestyle change may also include behavioral changes, and remember, nothing happens quickly.

The AHA recommends these steps to gain control of eating habits: Keep a daily food diary—write down everything you eat.

Eat high-fiber foods that are more filling to be more satisfied at the end of a meal.

Remove temptation foods from the fridge and pantry so there’s no chance of giving in.

Avoid high-carbohydrate foods. Work on stress management. Make getting enough sleep a priority.

Move—you can go the gym or you can dance, play a sport, take the stairs, park farther away, walk more often, and get a friend to join you for accountability and fun. Just move.

Debbie Sander, of The Villages, knows about the battle of obesity. At 5 feet 3 inches tall and 162 pounds, she was constantly trying a new fad diet or advertised program to lose weight.

“I tried every program under the sun,” Debbie says. “My husband Scott and I have been married for 12 years. One day he said, ‘If I see one more stupid diet…you know what

LAKE’S OVERALL HEALTH RATING OUT OF 67 COUNTIES

Source: flhealthcharts.com you’re supposed to do, Debbie.’ Of course, I knew what I was supposed to do, but doing it was another thing.”

When a friend of Debbie’s made an appointment with Dr. Christopher Kessler at the Legacy Clinic in the Villages, Debbie asked to go along. The clinic’s weight-loss program includes herbal supplements and nutritional counseling to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

“I had stopped exercising. Being in real estate, I was always busy and had unplanned things pop up, so I’d just grab something to eat when I could,” Debbie says. “When I started talking with Chris, he asked me if I knew Scott Sander.”

Debbie was startled that the doctor knew her husband and, at first, asked him to say nothing to Scott. In the end, however, she decided to tell Scott herself about her new diet.

“I immediately found this was different. You’re never hungry because you’re eating 1,200 calories a day,” Debbie says. “There’s not a lot of exercise. If I walk 20 to 30 minutes a day, I feel great.”

What was different was the support and help of Dr. Kessler.

“He said just because you have one bad meal doesn’t mean you have to have three bad meals, and I believed him,” Debbie says. “It’s a way of life for me now. Where I never wore dresses because I didn’t like how I looked in them, I wear them all the time now. I went from 162 to 119 (pounds) and a size 2. Believe me, it’s different when you know someone is there for you every step of the way like Chris is.”

Now Debbie packs a lunch and extra food for her busy day. “If I get really hungry, I can have protein, and that makes a difference for me. I can also have celery and carrots and stuff like that, but knowing I can have protein made a difference,” Debbie says.

Obesity continues to dominate health stories in the news, but, like smoking, consuming too much alcohol, and other bad habits, there are ways to help yourself. You just have to find the one that works for you.

The desire to be in good shape is one reason to exercise, but a recent Reportlinker survey on sports practice and health got these results:

• 77 percent of Americans say being in good shape and looking good is very important to them

• 42 percent believe they are overweight

• 37 percent believe they are in good shape

• 56 percent are concerned they are not muscular enough

• 75 percent admit to comparing how they look to others

83.277.5

LAKE’S MOST UTILIZED HOSPITALS

“I

If you enjoy walking, there are many places in Lake County to enjoy it, and these spots also have outdoor wellness stations along the walking trails to add a little extra to your outing:

Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve (PEAR) Park

4800 University Ave.

Leesburg

Magnolia Trail

1195 W. Magnolia St.

Leesburg

North Lake Community Park

40730 Roger Giles Road

Umatilla

Lake Okahumpka Park

6085 E. State Road 44

Wildwood

There are also bike trails, scenic local preserves, and lots of places to enjoy swimming, whether it’s in a public pool or as part of a gym program.

Looking for a little extra encouragement? Go to getfitlake.com and check what’s available to help you in your journey to weight loss and better health. If you’d like to talk to someone personally, contact AC Gander at GetFitLake@aol.com for help.

How To Get Kids To Eat More Fruits And Vegetables

It’s back to school time, and kids seem as though they’re hungrier than ever! They want lunches packed to the brim with tasty fare and food on tap from the minute they get home. You want to keep them filled up with good things, but some eaters can be picky. How can you get them to eat more fruits and veggies? Here’s why it matters and a few ways to do it.

How Important Is It?

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends children between the ages of 2 and 6 eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit. For older children and teens, they recommend four or five servings of veggies and three servings of fruit daily. That seems like a lot, but there are several benefits to getting the full amount. Here are the most compelling.

• Better nutrition – Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients not found in other foods. Vitamin C boosts immunity, vitamin A improves eye health, and spinach provides iron.

• Lower risk of obesity – As the obesity epidemic is on the rise, nutrition in the early years becomes even more important. Fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, which makes kids feel full longer. They also contain fewer calories for their bulk.

• Better digestive health – High-fiber foods relieve constipation and help the digestive system work efficiently.

• Better academic performance – The Journal of School Health found kids with healthy diets did better on tests than other children did. Good nutrition helps kids learn.

Pack Healthy School Lunches

If you’re going to get in all those servings of fruits and vegetables, some of them will have to be in their school lunches. Packing lunch is a tricky thing. What kids eat doesn’t just depend on their tastes and your budget. What their peers think often impacts what they choose to eat.

“I’m skinny, so naturally I feel good about my weight. I walk everywhere, and to be honest, I’d rather walk than be in a car. It burns calories and helps you mentally, as well. When I’m hanging out with friends and they’re eating pizza and chips, I eat a salad or a bowl of fruit. Maintaining a healthy weight is important.”

Wentling, Leesburg

Just because they eat celery sticks at home doesn’t mean they’ll do it when the cool kids see it and shake their heads. The good news is that eating healthy is experiencing a surge of popularity, even at the elementary level.

Kids love packaged chips and sugary snacks, but they also recognize healthy food takes time to prepare, and time is a luxury many family don’t have. Students admit to being impressed when classmates bring healthy food that is creatively prepared. Here’s how to pack fruits and vegetables your kids will actually eat.

Start with a cool container

A bento box or other container with sections keeps food separate. Pineapple chunks don’t make bread or pretzels soggy and fruit juice doesn’t get on things it shouldn’t. Boxes with sections let you pack them full of colorful choices, so when your child pops the lid it seems to overflow with goodness.

Encourage playing with their food

Most the things you pack will be finger foods. Encourage interaction when you prepare them. Put grapes in a snack sized zipper bag and use a wooden clothespin to pinch the bag into two sections. Decorate the clothespin so the whole thing looks like a butterfly.

Cut an apple into eighths and use a stick pretzel mast to turn them into boats.

Fill each section with variety

Put a handful of blueberries in one section and cherry tomatoes in another. Cut their sandwich into shapes with cookie cutters for a touch of playfulness.

Turn up the crunch

Kids love noise. You emphasize table manners at home, but in the cafeteria, they’re going to be silly. Use that to your advantage by challenging them to see which veggie crunches the loudest. Then send carrots, celery with light ranch, or apple wedges. Before long, their friends will want in on the crunch contest too.

Create colorful skewers

Don’t limit yourself to a sandwich for the main entrée. Use toothpicks to create colorful kebabs with sliced meat, cheese, cherry tomatoes, grapes, and bell peppers. Pack them on top of a lettuce leaf so the colors really pop.

Put it in a thermos

Send 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices in an insulated bottle. When the weather cools, use your slow cooker to turn protein and veggies into a savory stew that feels like a hug from home.

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Healthy Snacks for All

You prioritize healthy eating, but not all kids have that option. Most schools have vending machines kids can access for extra food. Talk to your school about packing them full of healthy choices. Here are some options that work in vending machines.

Black bean or lentil chips

Packaged apple wedges with peanut butter

Almonds

All-natural fruit strips

Dried bananas

All-natural granola bars