HEALTH ALERT: Obesity in Marion County Florida
posted on: Wednesday May 10, 2017
Marion County was ranked 43rd out of Florida’s 67 counties in an annual review of health outcomes, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. While the ranking shows a six spot positive jump from last year, the overall rating leaves much to be desired. Adult obesity in Marion County is at 29%, which is three points higher than the state average.
The Marion County Hospital District is funding grants targeting obesity (and other health-related concerns) in efforts to improve community health, but you can take the first steps to improve your health on your own. If you are overweight and worried about resultant health conditions, then learning about obesity and its effects is your first step to taking control of your health.
What is Obesity
Obesity is a condition where a person’s bodyweight is 20% higher than it should be, and their BMI (Body Mass Index) is 30 or over. Being obese may have a negative effect on your health.
What Causes Obesity
There are many factors, alone or combined, that can lead to obesity:
Consuming too many calories
The average amount of calories an active man needs per day to maintain a healthy weight is 2,500. For a woman, the number is 2,000. This number may sound high – until you consider that an average fast food hamburger, fries and milkshake can reach 1,500 calories.
Poor Diet
Poor diet can eventually lead to a person becoming overweight, then obese. Eating large amounts of fast food that are high in fat and sugar; drinking too much alcohol; eating larger portions than you need; consuming sugary beverages and comfort eating are all contributing habits of poor diet. Over time, these actions have a negative effect on your health.
Lack of Physical Activity
Pairing overeating or a poor diet with lack of physical activity intensifies the likelihood of obesity. Leading a sedentary life has become easier and easier, as many jobs require hours of desk work and many forms of relaxation involve screen time. But that doesn’t mean a person has to give up their favorite show to add activity into their life. It is recommended that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. That is only two and a half hours.
Medical Reasons
In some cases, underlying medical conditions such as an underactive thyroid or Cushing’s syndrome may contribute to weight gain and eventual obesity. However, if these ailments are properly diagnosed and treated, they should be less of a barrier toward healthy weight and weight loss.
If you are searching for a way to combat weight gain and obesity, American Family Medical of Ocala offers a wellness program that is focused on education and implementation. The TLS Weight Management System teaches you about low glycemic impact eating and how to identify new favorite foods while creating new healthy behaviors that will help boost metabolism. Just as learning about obesity is the first step to understanding how to beat it, learning about the TLS system at American Family Medical is the first step to overcoming it.
Find out more about the TLS system, and discover how it can maintain or create a healthy lifestyle for you.