There are two things about a woman that a wise man must steer clear of unwise comments about her cooking abilities –or lack of the same- and her weight. Many avoidable, but bitter wars have been fought over unkind references made about increasing waistlines, and many will still be fought. Beyond the matter of ego, and beauty, a woman’s weight can be a very valid indicator of her risk status for heart diseases, diabetes and cancers of the breast and endometrium.
OVERWEIGHT, OBESITY MORBID OBESITY
Terms such as ‘overweight’, ‘obese’, and ‘morbidly obese’ are commonly used by health practitioners to qualify a person’s weight status. They represent different points on a spectrum determined by estimated Body/Mass Indexes (BMI). Research has however shown that, a woman’s risk of sudden death; from heart diseases, respiratory abnormalities, sleep disorders and endocrine complications increases sharply as her weight to height ratio drifts away from normal to overweight, and towards obesity and morbid obesity. This classification based on the BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight into kilograms (kg) by the square of the height in meters (m2). It is, therefore, understandable that, for two individuals with the same weight, the shorter person will have a higher BMI.
The cut off for normal BMI is 25kg/m2. A woman’s ideal body weight is that which produces a BMI estimate between 20 and 25. Women with a BMI between 25 and 29 are termed ‘overweight’. Obesity begins at 30. Morbid Obesity is a very serious medical diagnosis reserved for individuals with BMI values above 40. In addition to the risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancers, morbidly obese women are at very high risks for osteoarthritis, gall stones, sleep apnea (breathlessness during sleep). The chart below is an example of the weight spectrum as may be seen in women of the same height (5’5’’ or 165.1 centimeters).
DANGERS OF EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS
Although the dangers of excessive weight gain have been explored extensively and widely reported, little mind is paid to the dangers of extremely low weight. Many women have fallen off the weight cliff by employing very extreme weight loss methods in order to attain elusive societal standards. It is equally dangerous to have abnormally low BMI as it is to have very high BMI. Below a certain weight (45kg) most women will experience cessation of menses.
Extreme dieting, fasting and exercise will only lead to dehydration, fatigue, malnutrition, and impaired mental functions. Every woman has an ideal weight. It is that weight that maintains her BMI between 20 and 25.
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT
Having recognized the health and psychological importance of maintaining a healthy body weight, every woman must come to terms with the fact that weight control is a lifetime process. More harm is done by trying to achieve drastic weight loss within very short time periods. In some cases of morbid obesity, with obvious risks to health, surgical procedures such as gastric banding may be recommended. Every woman who desires to attain and maintain a healthy weight must have a weighing scale at home for weight monitoring.
Healthy Eating Habits: Often, weight issues result from an imbalance between energy intake (in the form of food and drinks) and energy output (through physical activities). Care must be taken to avoid eating too late in the evening, consumption of snacks in between meals; Fast foods have a high fat and salt content. I will recommend controlled food portions, and controlled ingestion of soda and energy drinks.
Exercise: There is no magic to losing weight. Efforts made to control energy intake must be complemented with an age-appropriate exercise regime. Sometimes, it is better to walk than drive if the distance to be covered is short, and the environment is safe. At work, use the stairs sometimes instead of the elevator. There are multiple work-out videos which the motivated woman can buy and use too.
Some women have genetic predispositions to gain weight. Such individuals have to pay more attention to what they eat. Regular visits to the doctor’s office will also help identify and treat conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and eating disorders. Before you take any medication, ask your doctor how it will affect your weight; especially where antidepressants and contraceptives are concerned.
Be careful with weight loss ‘potions’, and magic tablets. Most of these tablets are diuretics. They may help you lose water (which constitutes 60%) of your weight, leaving the fat untouched.
Well it is very obvious and true that women should watch their weight. This will do a lot good to the total health of the woman. When a lady begins to take good care of her health and general appearance it will affect every area of her life positively e.g. her spiritual life, finances, marriage, education, social life, and general perception of things. Also as a Christian it will also make her heaven conscious and draw close to God. Though a times it is not easy, but with discipline, steadfastness and proper caution one can very well maintain a good and sound health. This matter of dieting for women who are over weight is a lovely thing to consider because it gives women a sense of importance, a good self worth and ego. For certainty and surety women should not handle their weight and health lightly. Only by God`s grace can a woman achieve her best.