Joint Pain and Heart Disease are more likely for Obese People

A new government survey helps quantify what public health officials have long known: Obese adults are significantly more likely to report joint pain, heart conditions, high cholesterol and diabetes than people at a healthy weight.


Among their findings:

---59% of obese adults reported having a heart condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes or ministrokes vs. 18% of adults at a health weight.

---55% of obese adults said they had high cholesterol vs. 21% of adults at a healthy weight.

---22% of obese respondents said they had diabetes versus 4% of adults with a healthy weight.

---40% of obese adults said they spent ½ and hour or more doing moderate or vigorous physical activity three times a week vs. 72% of those at a healthy weight.

Let’s all say it together- DUH!!!

Obviously, the people that are at a healthy weight got that way by eating right and exercising properly. There is NO QUESTION that if you are obese for any period of time, you WILL end up with some of these health problems- that is a certain!

The question is- what are you doing about it? Knowledge without action is meaningless. If you are at a healthy weight now, good for you- keep it that way. If you are obese (or worse), NOW is the time to start attacking the situation. Ask yourself these questions:

1) How much sugar do you eat each day?

2) How much of your diet is fried or grilled in butter?

3) How big are your portions that you eat each meal?

4) How much exercise are you getting every day?

LET’S MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACTIONS ARE REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

Bobby Bland PWCA, CIC
Vice President
Commercial Risk Service