Fattest American States: Where Does Yours Rank?

A new report has ranked the fattest states in America, and the findings are disturbing.  The report, entitled F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010, revealed that obesity rates in adults increased in 28 states over the past year.

Which state ranked number 1?  That would be Mississippi, where nearly 34% of adults in that state are classified as obese. There were 38 states with obesity rates over 25% in adults--shocking when compared with the fact that no state had a rate over 20% in 1991.

The number of states with obesity rates exceeding 30% has doubled from four to eight in the past year, and the number of adults who said that they do not engage physical activity of any kind went up in 12 states.

Additionally, it was found that 15.8% of high school students are overweight and 12% are obese.

According to Jeffrey Levi, PhD, a professor of health policy at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, “Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income...this report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem.”

The state with the lowest obesity rate was Colorado, at 19.1%

A link with more information about the report and its findings can be found here.

Clearly, obesity is a serious health issue in our country--and one that is not going away anytime soon.  For more information, lecture topics, and treatment plans in the areas of weight management, obesity and nutrition, contact Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare for a complimentary consultation today at (412) 494-4554.

Are Carbohydrates Bad for Your Health?

In recent years, carbohydrates have gotten a bit of a bad rap.  There have been several popular diets which have declared carbs the enemy and promised quick and easy weight loss---as long as you pass on the bread and pasta.  Because of this and other conflicting reports, many people are left more confused and unsure as ever about what to eat.

The truth is, not all carbs are bad.  In fact, some can be very good for you and thus it's never a good idea to cut them out completely.  Carbohydrates that contain fiber are healthy carbs, as they help us avoid blood sugar spikes in our body.  Examples of these types of carbs would be fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Carbohydrates which are refined and processed and are therefore thought of as "bad" carbs would include such things as white rice and white bread.

The National Academies Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get 45% to 65% of their calories from carbs, 10% to 35% from protein and 20% to 35% from fat.  If you are wondering how to get more good carbs into your diet, here are a few ideas for you:

• Start off your day with whole grains for breakfast.  If you like hot or cold cereals, look for those that include whole oats or whole wheat in the ingredients
• Avoid potatoes and include brown rice in your meal instead
• Substitute whole wheat pasta for regular pasta
• Incorporate whole grain breads
• Eat more beans--they are a great source of good carbohydrates as well as protein

If you would like more help with your diet and are interested in nutritional guidance to help you look and feel your best, call Allegheny Medical today at (412) 494-4550.  Our staff dietitian can assist you with all of your diet and nutrition needs.

Activity Ideas to Get the Whole Family Moving

Adults and children both need regular exercise to keep healthy, but unfortunately many of us often don't get enough.  Adults are busy juggling jobs, home life, family and other relationships; and even kids who attend physical education class or play a sport sometimes don't get the recommended amount of exercise.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, young people should get up to 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

With childhood obesity rates on the rise, it's important to encourage your family to stay active.  Everything your family consumes is stored as energy, and if that stored energy isn’t used, it can lead to weight gain. Being active helps use up the calories you store from everything you eat over the course of a day.

Fortunately, exercise doesn't have to be a chore or take up a ton of time.  In fact, it may be easier than you think to get the entire family involved and incorporate movement into everyday family activities.  Here are just a few ideas:

• Taking walks
• Playing at the playground
• Scavenger hunts
• Hiking
• Frisbee
• Interactive video games
• Rollerblading
• Biking
  

Also, don't forget to let your family know the other important benefits of being active besides keeping trim.  It helps keep stress levels low, helps increase energy, improves sleep, alleviates boredom, strengthens bones and muscles, improves self-esteem, builds overall endurance, and more.

Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare can provide you and your family with information, encouragement and treatment plans to help improve your health.  We offer lecture topics on get moving family activities as well as complimentary consultations.  Give us a call at (412) 494-4554 today.

Allegheny Medical’s WellnessCare Builds Healthier, Happier Lives

Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare programs help individuals understand their current health status, and provides them with information, encouragement and treatment plans to actively participate in improving their health. We help prepare for their future, as well as help bring about lifestyle changes necessary to improve and restore their health.

WellnessCare's programs are unique due to the fact that we perform an in-depth medical evaluation of each patient so our medical team can accurately customize a wellness program based on the assessment of an individual. We identify health risks and needs and develop wellness initiatives that target the patient's specific areas of concern.

We provide:

Health Risk Assessments

• We help bring about lifestyle changes necessary to improve and restore your health for a lifetime

Health Screenings

• Bone Density, Blood Pressure, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cholesterol, Body Fat and BMI screenings are provided by WellnessCare health professionals as well as flu shot clinics

Health & Wellness Workshops

• Educational lectures are given on key health issues ranging from nutrition, CPR, stress management and first aid

Health & Wellness Fairs

• Health fairs offer health screenings, health risk assessments, informational exhibits and demonstrations which provide individuals access to information on various health and wellness topics

Additionally, we offer lecture topics in the following areas:

Nutrition/Weight Management

• BMI
• Body Fat Assessment
• Eating Through the Holidays
• New Year, New You

Men's Health

• Sports Performance Training
• Cardiovascular Testing
• Body Fat Analysis
• Strength and Conditioning

Women's Health Series

• Natural Hormone Options
• Osteoporosis
• Heart Disease
• Stress Management

Family Series

• Childhood Obesity
• Backpack Safety
• Alternatives for Ritalin
• Healthy Eating for Busy Lifestyles
• Get Moving Family Activities

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Allegheny Medical WellnessCare, please call (412) 494-4554.

The Importance of Water in Overall Health

The human body is made up of more than two thirds water, and our brain alone is made up of 95% water, followed by the lungs at 90% and blood at 82%.  Just a small drop in the water supply of our body can cause signs of dehydration, such as trouble focusing on small print, basic math difficulty and fuzzy short-term memory.

Water is extremely important to the organ and cell functions of our bodies.  Some of the most critical ways water helps us as humans include metabolism regulation, the formation of the base of our saliva, constipation alleviation, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication and more.

Some of the other important health benefits of water:

• Flushes out toxins through the kidneys
• Fills you up and prevents overeating
• Reduces soreness during exercise
• Decreases tendency to retain fluids
• Helps the intestines absorb nutrients
• Helps maintain muscle tone
• Naturally moisturizes the skin

It is recommended that most people drink eight to ten glasses of water a day and to begin drinking before thirst sets in.  This is important because the body loses water faster during activity in sweat than it can absorb into the digestive system.  Depending on how active you are, you may need to modify your water intake.  According to the Mayo Clinic:

If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you're engaged in.

Concerned about how much water you are taking in? Consult a dietitian or a doctor, as they can help you figure out the amount of water that's most appropriate for you.