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