Obesity and being overweight is more than just an aesthetic issue or inconvenience. It’s a health hazard.
February is Heart Healthy Month, and heart disease includes high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease and is the leading cause of death in America and the world, according to the Cardiovascular Heart Foundation.
Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of conditions, including heart problems, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, some types of cancer, arthritis, asthma and disabilities, said Dr. Shyamal K. Mitra, a cardiologist and obesity and sleep medicine specialist with Kinston Medical Specialists.
Obesity also increases risk of dementia in women, particularly post-menopausal women in their 60s and 70s.
Mitra will be speaking on the connectivity of obesity and overweight to health, particularly the heart and brain, from noon to 1 p.m. Friday in the Lenoir Memorial Hospital auditorium.
“My primary focus is prevention,” he said.
The good news is the risks for these conditions are reduced by losing weight.
In fact, studies show that even losing 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight can reduce the risks, Mitra said.
A person can get an indication of body fat by measuring the body mass index — a formula of measuring weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, he said.
“Anything over a BMI of 30 is obese,” Mitra said.
Eastern North Carolina has a high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, according to health officials.
“A lot of studies show that exercise and diet delay the onset of diabetes and high blood pressure,” Mitra said. “And they reduce the risk of heart attacks.”
He recommends at least 40 minutes of brisk walking every day.
“But any exercise will do you some good,” he said.
He suggests following the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s DASH diet, which emphasizes eating more fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains, and less fat and sugar.
Many people know they need a full eight hours of sleep, but most people are only getting six hours of sleep, on average, Mitra said. The main causes are watching television and too much stress.
Mitra suggests “taking everything into the right perspective.” He said studies have shown that exercise, having a dog and doing yoga chanting and slow breathing techniques, meditation and prayer reduce stress.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
Facts:
A 2010 report on adults ages 18 and older in North Carolina:
Nearly 65 percent were overweight and had a Body Mass Index of 25 or greater
Nearly 28 percent of adults were obese and had a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sleep apnea risks:
Your abdomen is 40 inches or more
Your neck is 17 inches or more if you are a man
Your neck is 16 inches or more if you are a woman
Source: Dr. Shyamal K. Mitra, Cardiologist
To calculate your Body Mass Index, go to www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/
For information about the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash
If you go...
Dr. Shyamal K. Mitra, Cardiologist
'Your Heart, Your Brain and Your Belly — Connected in More Ways Than You Know!'
Noon-1 p.m. Friday
Lenoir Memorial Hospital auditorium