"I don't even have to eat the food," she laughs.
"All I have to do is stand near a plate of cookies
and I gain weight!" Marie is right to be vigilant,
as studies show that when put together, lack of exercise
and extra pounds are one of the leading underlying causes
of death in the U.S. As people gain weight, they open
themselves up to a host of health problems, from diabetes
to hypertension, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
America's retirees are particularly at risk. As they age,
they slow down, both physically and metabolically. With
more time on their hands, the opportunities to snack,
eat out and entertain increase. The Center for Disease
Control reports that approximately 70% of men and women
between 65 and 74 are now overweight, and life expectancies
may actually drop by as much as five years because of
obesity and its accompanying medical conditions.
In 2002 the RAND group conducted a study that compared
the effects of smoking, obesity, heavy drinking and poverty
to chronic health conditions. Their findings point to
obesity as the most serious link. It contributes to higher
health costs nationally, and affects more Americans overall
than smoking, alcoholism and poverty.
One in five Americans is obese, due to sedentary lifestyles,
wider dependence upon snack foods, and fewer meals consumed
at home. You need only to scan the number of food-oriented
magazines on the market to realize that eating has become
another way to spend leisure time and to socialize. The
toll that all this consumption is taking is starting to
make health costs skyrocket and our national health outlook
decline.
"I read a short laundry list of risks related to
being overweight in a senior magazine," says Marie.
"I was shocked. When I put down the magazine I made
a plan to eat less and exercise more. I now walk with
a friend for thirty minutes a day, cook more meals at
home, choose low-fat dairy products, use olive oil instead
of butter, and eat lots more fresh fruits and vegetables."
The "laundry list" of health risks related to
obesity that Marie read probably looked like this:
* heart disease
* increased cholesterol
* atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
* high blood pressure leading to stroke
* cancer (especially colon, gall bladder and kidney)
* fatty liver disease
* gall stones
* breathing problems (including sleep apnea)
* arthritis (especially in the knees)
* Type 2 diabetes (weight gain of 11-18 pounds raises
risk of diabetes---there is even a new word for this:
"diabesity")
The good news is that losing even a small amount of weight
reduces the chances of developing heart disease and stroke.
As little as 10-20 pounds of weight loss can improve health
and cut your risks of contracting a disease that not only
threatens your life, but can take the joy out of your
golden years. Make your mantra for healthy living "eat
less, move more," and you may add years to your life.
RESOURCES
- Senior Help-Line (800-642-5119) can connect you with
nutrition information and exercise classes in your area.
- National Diabetes Education website (www.ndep.nih.gov)
has useful brochures and information available.
- Order The Exercise Guidebook, a great free resource
(800-222-2225)
Healthier Living workshops for those with chronic conditions
available through local hospitals.
- Town recreation departments, health clubs and senior
centers offer exercise opportunities.
- Council on Aging for Southeastern VT lists exercise
options on their website http://www.coasevt.org/news.html
