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.

Fattest American States: Where Does Yours Rank? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

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.

Are Carbohydrates Bad for Your Health? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

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.

Activity Ideas to Get the Whole Family Moving is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

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.

Allegheny Medical’s WellnessCare Builds Healthier, Happier Lives is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

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.

The Importance of Water in Overall Health is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

In a bone density test, an X-ray is used to measure how much calcium and other bone minerals are in a particular segment of bone. The test is used to predict an individual's risk of fracture, to confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis after a broken bone or to monitor treatment for osteoporosis.

According to the Mayo Clinic's site, The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing if:

• You're a woman age 65 or older
• You're a postmenopausal woman under age 65 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis
• You're a man age 70 or older
• You're a man between age 50 and 70 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis
• You're older than age 50 and you've experienced a broken bone
• You're a postmenopausal woman and you've stopped taking estrogen therapy or hormone therapy

You can expect your bone density test to be quick, painless and easy, with no real preparation needed.  A central (a large machine on which you lie down) or peripheral device (small, portable machine that measures bone density on the periphery of your skeleton) is usually used to measure bone density, and the test is commonly done on thigh bones, wrist or forearm bones or the bones of the lower spine.

The results of a bone density test are reported as a T-score number and a Z-score number. The number of units that your bone density is above or below the average is measured by the T-score, and the number of standard deviations above or below what's normally expected for someone of your weight, sex, race or age is measured by the Z-score.

In the past, osteoporosis could only be detected after you broke a bone. Thankfully, today a bone density test allows you to find out your risk of breaking bones before it occurs.

All About Bone Density Tests is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

However, while USDA guidelines emphasize that nutrient supplements should not be substituted for a healthy diet, they do note that vitamins can be useful when there is a nutrient gap that an individual cannot meet with their intake of food.

Your body needs vitamins in order to grow and develop normally. These vitamins include A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins--niacin, pantothenic acid, folate, riboflavin, biotin, vitamin B-6, thiamine and vitamin B-12.  The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans specify that the low intake of certain nutrients and vitamins may create a cause for concern.  Specifically, these nutrients are calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, Vitamins A, C, E and folic acid, among others.

Who in particular needs specific vitamins and nutrients? According to the FDA:

• If you are an older adult, have dark skin, or are exposed to insufficient sunlight, consume extra vitamin D from fortified foods or supplements.
• If you're a woman of childbearing age who may become pregnant, consume iron-rich foods.
• If you're over age 50, consume vitamin B-12 in its crystalline form in fortified foods or supplements.
• If you're a woman who may become pregnant or is in the first trimester of pregnancy, consume adequate folic acid daily from fortified foods or supplements.

The FDA advises that vitamins are not dangerous as long as they are taken in the quantity that is suggested on the label. If an adverse reaction is experienced, be sure to contact your doctor, as well as the manufacturer of the supplement.

The bottom line? Try to incorporate more of these nutrients in your diet, and remember that it's always better to consume a variety of foods, as opposed to just taking a multivitamin.

How Important is it to Take Vitamins? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Parents are urged to encourage their kids to be physically active--especially because it has been shown that children who are obese have an extremely difficult time losing weight. When a child is overweight growing up, it also makes it harder for them to change their habits and their lifestyle when they become adults.

So why is there such an epidemic?  One reason is the large quantities of readily available foods which are full of sugar and fat as well as high in calories.  The other major factor is a lack of physical activity and exercise.

Just last month, First Lady Michelle Obama announced her program to help end childhood obesity in America.  The campaign is called "Let's Move" and it involves several things: helping parents become more informed about nutrition and exercise, improving food quality in schools, putting a stronger emphasis on physical education and making foods which are healthy more accessible and affordable.

In what other ways can childhood obesity be tackled?  Having parents discourage sugary and high-fat beverages and foods, improving outdoor recreational facility access, making physical education required, having communities better support activities such as biking and walking and improving traffic safety in places where children play or engage in physical activities.

The good news is, the problem of childhood obesity can be solved.  With the involvement of schools and teachers and more education about how it can be prevented, this epidemic can be turned around.

Childhood Obesity: What Can Be Done About This Epidemic? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of the body, and the "pressure" is the force of the blood against artery walls. Blood is pumped out of the heart into the arteries each time the heart beats, at which time your blood pressure is at its highest. This is referred to as systolic pressure. Your blood pressure falls when the heart is resting between beats, and this is referred to as diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure is made up of both the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) pressure numbers, for example 100/70.

When you are awake and standing still or not being active, your blood pressure usually remains the same. Anything above 120/80 is considered high, because your heart has to work harder and you have a greater chance of a stroke or heart attack. Specifically, 120-139/80-89 is considered Pre-Hypertension, greater than 140/90 is Hypertension, 140-159/90-99 is Stage 1 Hypertension, and 160 or greater/100 or greater is Stage 2 Hypertension.

Fortunately, blood pressure can be lowered with lifestyle changes such as:

• Getting regular exercise
• Limiting alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing sodium intake
• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat

Sometimes drugs are used to treat high blood pressure, including beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, receptor blockers and more.

Once your blood pressure has been regulated, you should still visit your doctor every few months to make sure that things are still under control.  Ultimately, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly--this way, you can find out if you need to correct any potential problems before they get too serious.

How Much Do You Know About Blood Pressure? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Compared to other types of bags, backpacks are a good choice because their weight is supported by the abdominal and back muscles, which are some of the strongest in the body.  A backpack's weight is evenly distributed across the body if the backpack is worn correctly.

However, if they are not worn correctly or are too heavy, they can cause back pain or strain the joints or muscles.  When a heavy backpack is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight can cause a child to pull their body back.  In order to compensate, a child may bend forward which can end up causing the spine to become compressed.

Here are some safety tips to make sure your child doesn't run into trouble due to their backpack.

Doctors and physical therapists actually recommend that kids carry no more than 10% to 15% of their body weight in their backpacks. Additionally, when buying a new backpack it's a good idea to go for more lightweight packs, such as ones made of canvas instead of leather.

The shoulder straps are also important, and should be padded and wide as thinner straps tend to dig into the shoulders.  Kids should be encouraged to wear both straps on the shoulders instead of just one.

Packs with multiple compartments also help to distribute weight evenly, as do packs that come with a waist belt.  Kids can also avoid backpack injuries by picking up the pack the right way---by bending at the knees and grabbing the pack with both hands when putting it on their shoulders.

Finally, encourage kids to use their desk or locker throughout the day instead of carrying a full day's worth of books in their backpack, and to bring home only the books needed for homework at night.

Backpack safety is one of the topics covered in Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare lecture series. For more information, please contact us at (412) 494-4554.

The Importance of Backpack Safety for Kids is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog