CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15/CDRT.iso/dp/0003/0003400.tid

Text File | 1994-01-17 | 3KB | 47 lines

$Title{Facts About Fat}

A Medical Times Patient Education Chart
(C) Romaine Pierson Publishers, Inc.

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Facts About Fat

     If you have a weight problem--controlled or uncontrolled--you are not
alone.  There are about 15 million Americans who are at least 20% overweight,
and that's borderline obesity.  The more your weight goes up, the more
problems you'll encounter in maintaining health and achieving longevity.  "The
longer the waistline, the shorter the lifeline" is an all too familiar adage.
But sadly, it doesn't really sink in for many people until the insidious
growth of girth creates a crisis.  This chart shows what happens inside your
body as you progress from being slightly overweight to being obese.  We're not
stressing the cosmetic disabilities caused by excess weight--or the
psychological problems.  We are presenting the gut problem.
     Shortness of breath may be a first sign of pulmonary distress and heart
strain caused by overweight.  The chart shows you how and why obesity
increases the heart's workload and contributes to premature death:  fat
enlarges the capillary bed (tiny connective blood vessels in an area or organ
of your body) which increases the amount of tissue to be nourished by the
blood and through which the blood must be pumped by your heart.
     In addition, the fat accumulated has to go someplace.  You can see what's
happening on the outside of you--now let's take a look at the inside.  Fat
infiltrates the liver and other organs.  It's a squeeze process, an invasion.
Fat compresses the heart, decreases the blood supply to the intestines, etc.
(See figures above.)  Some very fat people can't sit, because if they do,
there's no space for their lungs to operate in, as the fat invades the chest.
These people have to stand up or lie down all the time.  They have disabled
themselves.  Along with all this, extra heavy people--and even moderately
overweight persons--are putting an extra burden on their backs and legs (the
weight bearing joints), which causes or increases arthritic problems.
     Complications following surgery occur more frequently in fat people vs.
thin.  Wounds don't heal as well or as fast.  And again a breathing
problem--heavyweights can't take anesthesia as well as people of normal
weight.
     The final point to remember is that weight will always be with you--as
long as you're alive.  To control your weight, you have to control the number
of calories you eat.  Your doctor knows you inside and out better than any
far-removed author of reducing plans that please the palate.  Your doctor will
prescribe a highly individualized diet--just for you--to help you beat the
battle of the bulge, which this chart should show you goes on inside as well
as out.