Someone recently asked me if it is really so terrible to be overweight. She added that her grandmother, who lived to the ripe old age of 91, was always pudgy. I got to thinking about her question, and although her grandmother may indeed have experienced longevity despite an above-normal weight, the bottom line is that it is hard to argue with statistics, all of which indicate that for the general population, being overweight diminishes your quality of life and even shortens your life. There are people who live long who are overweight, but how is the quality of their life?

Being overweight is known to cause heart disease, various cancers, digestive problems, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis, and in general, can shorten your lifespan. So, maybe you happened to be one of those small handfuls of lucky people who have great genes. But even that will only get you so far, because when it comes to sleep apnea and osteoarthritis, that won’t help you too much.

We live in a prosperous society. Even during the current financial crises, no one had to wait in line to receive handouts of bread as in the great depression. Food abounds everywhere and fast foods are relatively cheap. There is hardly an establishment today that doesn’t deliver, and burger places and pizza shops are on every corner, or at least relatively close by. And for a working person, taking out is easier than cooking. Most of all, we have lost our awareness of true hunger and of what feeling full is. Even those who try to eat healthy food, tend to eat too much of it. In the United States alone, Americans expend 400 billion dollars a year just on cardiac-related illness, and health care costs continue to soar.

This begs the obvious question: What is normal weight? The answer is not as clear as it would seem to be. Most people assess their weight the old-fashioned way – by a number on the scale. And you can certainly access normal weight charts online. However, the most common – and easiest – way to ascertain normal weight today is the Body Mass Index, or BMI. BMI is determined by calculating the individual’s body weight divided by the square of his or her height using meters for height and kilograms for weight. Using a BMI chart simplifies this process. A reading of 18-24 indicates that your weight should not affect your health. In addition, your percentage of body fat plays a key role in assessing a healthful weight. The best way to determine your body fat is to have measurements taken of skin folds at certain locations on your body. This should be done by an experienced professional.

There will always be “those” people… the ones who can “get away with” being overweight.” But as we age, and carry around those extra pounds that our bodies are not really built to be lugging around, we WILL begin to experience soreness in the knees, ankles and lower back. Summer weather will cause us to feel several degrees warmer than those who are able to maintain an appropriate weight. So even if you are fortunate enough to have those protective genes against the numerous ailments caused by overweight, it is nearly guaranteed that you will still feel the effects of the extra weight in some way.

Keeping a normal weight by incorporating good and nutritious eating and exercise into you daily routine is integral to your health and quality of life. It is another way to “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.”

Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER and a LIFESTYLE FITNESS COACH with over 12 years of professional experience. He is the co-director of the Jerusalem-based weight loss center Lose It! along with Linda Holtz M.Sc. and is available for private consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. He can be reached at 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or by email at [email protected]

(Alan Freishtat – YWN)