Baby Boomer Obesity Alone Increases Your Mortality Risks

If that growing belly hasn't motivated you to lose weight yet, a recent report from Northwestern researchers may provide some incentive: Those extra pounds that hang around at middle age all by themselves can increase your risk of death significantly.

Scientists found low-risk patients suffering from obesity at middle age -- yet having normal cholesterol and blood pressure readings and not smoking -- elevated their risk of death from heart disease by 43 percent. Even worse, obese patients in that low-risk group were at least four times more likely to be hospitalized for heart disease.

And, if you're carrying those extra pounds but have otherwise normal readings during checkups, don't expect your doctor to scold you about getting rid of it, according to one expert. That's based on a myth, perpetuated by patients and doctors, a growing belly is nothing to be concerned about until blood pressure and cholesterol levels become elevated.

Just another sign, a study I posted last spring about the shrinking lifespans of Americans, thanks to the obesity epidemic, is all too true. Fortunately, you have all the free tools you need on my Web site to prove all those alarming numbers wrong. Here's an easy way to remember them:

Metabolic type
Exercise
Replace trans fats with fish oil
Clean water
One hour of sunshine every day
Learn better sleep habits
Avoid artificial sweeteners

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 295, No. 2, January 11, 2006: 190-198

MSNBC January 10, 2006

Yahoo News January 10, 2006

more info at:
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/integrated_med.htm