The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in this month's Journal of the American Medical Association that 18.9 percent of Americans are obese. In the past decade, obesity among adults has risen by almost 60 percent. From 1998 to 1999, the CDCP says obesity among Americans shot up six percent. Obesity accounts for 300,000 premature deaths each year (second only to tobacco-related deaths) and accounts for 9.4 percent of the healthcare expenditures nationwide, the CDCP said. 

The next time you admonish yourself for being fat, don't think you just look bad and can't fit your jeans. Think that you have a disease and need a cure, as you would from any other disease. Treat it medically with prescribed diet and exercise from our health & fitness diet and exercise tips. Check with your doctor before launching a 'get well' regime. 

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Question of the Week

Question: 
I would like to gain weight. My metabolism rate is extremely high and I exercise a lot. Can you advise me?

Answer: 
Gaining weight can be sometimes more difficult than losing weight. But the same healthy eating habits and exercise regimes should apply. Aerobic exercise is what burns fat and uses calories. If you want to gain weight, we suggest you cut back on aerobic exercise such as running and using machines such as the treadmill, stairstepper, elliptical and crosstrainer machines. Instead, concentrate on strength training with weights and machines. For aerobic exercise, swimming is a great all around body workout, as is power walking. These exercises, although aerobic, burn fewer calories than heavy aerobic exercise.

Diet is key to gaining weight. Eat more frequently and choose more carbohydrates such as pasta, whole wheat bread and potatoes. Protein shakes help add bulk as do lean meats and nuts. Try eating a sandwich and a piece of fruit for a mid-morning snack and a handful of nuts for a mid-afternoon snack. Alternate with a baked potato and cottage cheese or a bowl of chili. Fruit juices and whole grain cereals are also good choices for snacks. Be sure and eat five or six small meals a day. You don't need to add fatty or junk foods and sugary desserts to your diet to gain weight. Stick with high quality nutrient-dense foods. Cold sweet potatoes make great snacks and they are high in vitamins and fiber. Make your own fruit shakes with a banana, milk and crushed ice. 

Check our Health & Fitness Home Page for more health tips on exercise and weight loss and just plain healthy living. And let us know how you're doing. Good luck.

The HFT Staff

NOTE: If you would like to see your question featured here, please submit to: questions@health-fitness-tips.com

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