Inertia can be defined as stagnation with regard to effort, motion or action. We created Resist Inertia, Inc. to inspire ourselves to reject a static, inactive lifestyle and instead to be empowered to change course and embrace a healthy lifestyle by improving eating habits and striving for optimum fitness.
Fact 1. Sixty six percent of adults over 20 years of age are overweight or obese and 32% of adults over 20 years of age are considered obese. (NHANES data on the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults-United States, 2003-2004). Obesity is an important risk factor for diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy (weak heart) and stroke. We know that obese individuals are at higher risk for these diseases and the more overweight we are; the more likely we will die at an earlier age. Studies show that weight loss is associated with a reduction in prevalence of these diseases and reduction in heart disease risk.
Fact 2. Studies have clearly shown that losing excess weight helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A healthy, well-balanced diet combined with exercise is essential to weight loss. However, regular exercise that maintains “fitness” – the function of the cardiovascular system and musculature to perform at maximal efficiency – independently of weight loss has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from heart disease. In fact, from a cardiovascular risk perspective, it is better to be obese yet fit than to be an ideal weight yet not exercise.
Fact 3. Obesity has profound effects on the risk of multiple other serious health problems, in addition to cardiovascular disease. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases 40-60 fold comparing someone with a normal BMI (22-24) versus an BMI in the obesity range (35 or higher) (Bray, JCEM 89:2583-2589, 2004). Type 2 or adult onset diabetes now affects more than 8% of the American population and, if uncontrolled, is associated with an increased risk of kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage or neuropathy, heart attacks, strokes and peripheral artery disease. The risk of a non traumatic amputation of a lower limb is 25 fold higher in diabetics compared to non diabetics (CDC.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2007.pdf, www.diabetes.org). Even modest weight loss improves blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes (Bray JCEM 89:2583-2589, 2004.)
Fact 4. Obesity increases the risk of breast, gallbladder and endometrial cancer in women, prostate and colon cancer in men, and pancreatic cancer in both sexes. Obesity also causes infertility in women by worsening insulin resistance and causing polycystic ovary syndrome. Obesity increases the risk of sleep apnea in both sexes, but especially in men (Bray JCEM 89:2583-2589, 2004.) Sleep apnea is known to be associated with sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, headaches, worsened high blood pressure, right sided heart failure in both sexes, and low testosterone levels in men (www.sleepapnea.org). Obesity causes and worsens degenerative or osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, particularly in the knee and ankle, joints that are directly impacted by the increased force applied to these joints daily in obese individuals. Obesity also is associated with abnormalities in the liver, including abnormal liver tests, and can even cause cirrhosis, and increases the risk of gallstone disease (Bray JCEM 89:2583-2589, 2004.)
Fact 5. Simply put, obesity shortens lives and robs people of good health. It has been estimated that having a BMI >30 (defined as obesity) will shorten life expectancy by 6-7 years compared to the life expectancy of a normal weight individual (Peeters et al, Ann Intern Med 138:24-32, 2003).
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