| For the 30 percent of U.S. adults | | | | one-third of the group, had a greater |
| (that's over 60 million people) who | | | | physical response to the electric shock |
| suffer from the "Great American Disease" | | | | than did normal-weight patients -- both |
| - obesity - there are multiple health | | | | before and after the pain-management |
| risks that are of serious concern. It's | | | | training session. This indicates the |
| commonly known that being overweight and | | | | obese patients had a lower tolerance for |
| obese increases the risks of numerous | | | | pain, researchers pointed out, even |
| health problems, such as these, | | | | though they said they had a high pain |
| according to the Centers for Disease | | | | tolerance. Getting the Wrong Blood |
| Control and Prevention (CDC): | | | | Pressure Readings Because arm cuffs used |
| Hypertension High total cholesterol | | | | for blood pressure readings must be the |
| High triglycerides Type 2 diabetes | | | | proper size to give an accurate reading, |
| Coronary heart disease Stroke | | | | obese people may receive incorrect |
| Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis | | | | results. A study in the British Medical |
| Sleep apnea and respiratory problems | | | | Journal found that 8 percent of obese |
| Some cancers (endometrial, breast and | | | | patients were wrongly diagnosed as |
| colon) Although one of the national | | | | hypertensive because a standard size |
| health objectives for the year 2010 is | | | | cuff, as opposed to a large size adult |
| to get the percentage of U.S. adults who | | | | cuff, was used. This misdiagnosis could |
| are obese down to 15 percent, currently | | | | mean that the patient would be |
| the prevalence is increasing rather than | | | | prescribed drugs or antihypertensive |
| decreasing. Aside from the physical | | | | treatments unnecessarily. "Our findings |
| health risks, obesity can also take a | | | | show that blood pressure readings taken |
| huge emotional toll. Many obese people | | | | by the auscultatory method using a |
| report feeling discriminated against, | | | | standard cuff instead of a large cuff in |
| having low self-esteem and feeling | | | | subjects with obese arms will be |
| self-conscious or uncomfortable in | | | | significantly higher in many |
| social situations. Obesity's Hidden | | | | individuals. Limited availability of |
| Burdens For those who are in this | | | | different cuff sizes makes the improper |
| growing population, those at risk of | | | | usage of a standard cuff a frequent |
| joining it, or those who love someone | | | | practice. Such circumstance potentially |
| who is obese, knowing that there are | | | | becomes a source of biased blood |
| other, much less commonly known, but | | | | pressure readings," the authors said. |
| still very serious risks to this | | | | Increased Risk of Being Bullied for |
| increasingly common condition is of | | | | Children A study of over 8,000 |
| utmost importance. Obesity Raises Risk | | | | 7-year-olds in the UK found that obese |
| of Dying in a Car Accident Research from | | | | children were about 50 percent more |
| the Medical College of Wisconsin Injury | | | | likely to be bullied than their |
| Research Center in Milwaukee, published | | | | normal-weight peers. The study found |
| in the American Journal of Public | | | | that: 36 percent of obese boys, and 34 |
| Health, analyzed data from over 22,000 | | | | percent of obese girls, were victims of |
| drivers over the age of 16. They found | | | | "overt" bullying, which included |
| that being obese increases a man's risk | | | | physical harm, intimidation and |
| of dying in a motor vehicle accident. | | | | name-calling 14 percent of the obese |
| Male drivers with a body-mass index | | | | boys became bullies (compared to 10 |
| (BMI) greater than 35 were significantly | | | | percent of the normal-weight boys) |
| more likely to die after a front-end or | | | | themselves (researchers suspect because |
| left-side collision than men with | | | | of their dominant size) Children as |
| intermediate BMIs, researchers said. | | | | young as 4 display negative feelings |
| (Those who were very thin, with BMIs | | | | toward overweight children their age |
| lower than 22, were also more likely to | | | | How to Overcome Obesity If you or |
| die). "The increased risk of dying in | | | | someone you love is obese, you should |
| motor vehicle collisions associated with | | | | begin a weight-loss program under the |
| a high BMI may be due to some | | | | supervision of a health care |
| combination of momentum effects, | | | | professional. The Surgeon General's |
| co-morbidities of obesity, and emergency | | | | Healthy Weight Advice for Consumers |
| and postoperative treatment problems in | | | | recommends the following general tips: |
| the obese," the authors said. More | | | | Aim for a healthy weight. People who |
| Sensitive to Pain Obese people also seem | | | | need to lose weight should do so |
| to be more sensitive to pain than people | | | | gradually, at a rate of one-half to two |
| of a normal weight, according to Ohio | | | | pounds per week. Be active. The safest |
| State University researchers. They | | | | and most effective way to lose weight is |
| conducted a study of 62 older adults | | | | to reduce calories and increase physical |
| with osteoarthritis of the knee. They | | | | activity. Eat well. Select sensible |
| were given a mild electrical shock on | | | | portion sizes and follow the Dietary |
| their ankle both before and after | | | | Guidelines for Americans. For more |
| receiving a 45-minute training session | | | | detailed weight loss advice, please |
| on how to cope with pain. Obese | | | | check out the recommended articles |
| participants, who made up about | | | | below. |