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