The body mass index (BMI) is one of the most common ways to determine whether an individual is at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight or obese. The system is easy to use and requires nothing more than a scale, measuring tape and a calculator to measure the amount of weight in relation to height. It’s widely used by personal trainers and medical professionals. However BMI has long been criticized for not accurately measuring body fat because looking at a number on a scale alone does not take into account vital information such as the amount of existing muscle (or lack thereof). As a result, professional athletes with little fat but lots of muscle would be deemed as overweight/obese.

Instead of BMI, how about measuring neck circumference instead? Another relatively easy formula, measuring neck circumference (at the widest part of the neck) can determine whether an individual is overweight or obese. Adults with a wider neck tend to suffer from health problems related to excess weight gain, such as apnea and diabetes. It is a better indicator of the amount of fat on the body, as well as its placement (something that BMI totally overlooks). A wider circumference often indicates more fat concentrated in the midsection, something that has been repeatedly linked to diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

While measuring the circumference of the neck can provide further insight, physicians still refer to BMI as a starting point. Researchers say that they’ll need further examination and assessment of the method to fully determine its accuracy as an effective tool.

The neck circumference method was published in Pediatrics, a medical journal, back in the summer. The study explored children 6 to 18 years old and found that the measurement could successfully determine those with a high BMI and fatty tissue.

Obesity has been pinpointed as one of the factors that could contribute to cancer.

According to statistics, two thirds of the population in North America are considered to be overweight or obese. Determined by the BMI (Body Mass Index), individuals considered to be overweight have a BMI of 25.0–29.9, while those considered to be obese are over 30.0. Obesity is perceived as a medical condition, in which the body has an amount of fat that is excessive to the point that is could adversely affect health. The National Cancer Institute blames a sedentary lifestyle and over consumption of high caloric foods to be the major causes.

The statistics for women over 50 are worse; a whopping 80% fall into those two categories.

Cancer and Obesity

A number of health issues are related to obesity, and one of the most serious is cancer. Research has shown that obesity (coupled with a sedentary lifestyle) can make some cancers, such as colon, breast, uterine, esophagus and kidney, more likely. It can also increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer. In fact, obesity makes a woman 2 to 4 times more likely to develop the disease, compared to a woman within the normal range.

For postmenopausal women, the distribution of fat after menopause tends to concentrate in the upper body, namely the abdominal area. “Belly fat”, an overall excess of body fat and increased estrogen levels (produced in fatty tissue rather than the ovaries) are a fatal combination in women at this age. This  has been linked to the development of breast cancer and the rapid growth of tumors. Detection may also be more difficult in obese women compared to those within the normal weight range.

The Importance of Eating Healthy and Physical Exercise
Exercise and eating a healthy low calorie diet are the key to reducing the risk of the aforementioned types of cancer. Although at present, insufficient research has been conducted to determine whether a suitable exercise regimen reduces the risk of developing cancer, many informal studies have shown favourable results.

And there’s no need to lose a lot of weight to experience the benefits – as little as 5-10% of your overall weight can help. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Personal Trainer Toronto to start shedding those pounds!

Taken from the French word for “little cell” back in 1968, cellulite is the name for those dimples that aren’t on our face. Orange peel skin or cottage cheese, that dimply skin on our thighs, buttocks, upper arms, abdomen, or where ever else you may have it is something that most of us have come to despise, whether we’re overweight, underweight or at a healthy weight.

Although a startling array of solutions are touted by cosmetics manufacturers, all hoping to cash in on one of the most commonly complained about problems amongst women, the treatment of cellulite does not come in the form of a cream, lotion, or pill. At best, products designed to smooth away dimpled skin achieve only temporary results that frequently disappoint.

So what’s the solution? Science has yet to figure that out. But you can address the problem in the same way you would for fat, as they are essentially the same thing.

Cellulite vs Fat
Technically speaking, cellulite and fat are not mutually exclusive things. Cellulite is subcutaneous fat (the fat under the skin but not around the internal organs, which is known as visceral fat). It is fatty tissue that is the texture of cottage cheese, combined with trapped toxins and fluids. This combination bulges through a weakened network of fibres that surround it, and it is the visible bulging that creates the trademark appearance of cellulite.

Good news for men; cellulite is most apparent in women since the fairer sex generally has thinner skin which makes the bulging more visible. With age, however, it can affect both men and women since one of the signs of aging is thinning of the skin.

Many medical professionals believe that the way to get rid of cellulite, or at least prevent or reduce it, is to lower the amount of fat on your body. You’ll need to reduce your overall body fat, since unfortunately, you can’t spot reduce. Your body just doesn’t work that way. The body gets rid of fat methodically and it’s problem areas like your butt and abdomen that are last affected by all of the exercise and dieting you do (which is, basically, why they’re problem areas).

Healthy skin tone can also help. Because weakened skin fibres allow fat to bulge through, focusing on keeping your skin in tip top shape can help prevent or eliminate cellulite.