Is being overweight a real problem?

1. 68

   Sottwayposted 12 years ago

   Within today's society it is pretty much the norm to be overweight...
   
   Is it a real problem though?

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      Alecia Murphyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Being overweight or obese to the point where you cannot work or be productive everyday is a real problem. Studies have shown obesity drives up the risk for people to catch other diseases and that drives up medical costs. It shouldn't be the norm to be overweight, but to be healthy. That means if you can't get up the stairs without huffing and puffing, then you should strive to fix that. But if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and happen to be a bit overweight, I don't see any problem with someone having a couple of extra lbs. Not everyone's going to be a size 2.

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      1. 68

         Sottwayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I agree completely with your reply Alecia! Especially about how productive someone can be, even with a few extra lbs...

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   2. 83

      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It is a problem when it is a problem--that is, reducing health, happiness and/or life expectancy.

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      relacheposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's certainly not a fake problem...

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2. 79

   mega1posted 12 years ago

   being overweight is one of the basic things that can cause your health to go really wrong - so many chronic ailments all started with being overweight.  At the very least it stresses your body, making it harder to move around!  So yes, its important not to be overweight.  Your body can be compared to a fine engine on an expensive automobile - if you give it the right oil and gasoline and don't overuse it or abuse it, this auto will last a long, long, time.  But if you don't maintain things and one thing goes wrong, like the water pump or the battery - and you don't fix or replace that water pump or battery, then other things will go wrong too!  so if you're overweight you can strain your heart, your lungs, your spleen and liver and pancreas - your thyroid and other hormone producing functions can become so out of balance that all your organs will diminish and you will become ill.  Does that convince you to lose the extra weight?  Hope so.

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3. 70

   AshtonFireflyposted 12 years ago

   Yes I think it is a problem, as it concerns health. Obesity can lead to alot of other illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, etc. I feel quite sad that is has become more or less the norm.
     However, I think that people's self-respect and self-esteem should not be as damaged by it as it has been. Oftentimes, overweight people are regarded with judgement; and those who are overweight feel that they are ugly or that they are somehow less valuable because of it.
     So although I feel that obesity is dangerous physically, I feel that it should not cause people to lose their self-respect or dignity. I know this from first-hand experience. I used to be quite overweight and as a result was unconfident, shy, angry at myself, hated myself, etc. I did eventually lose the weight, but I wish that I had not wasted years of my life hating myself because of the judgement I received from others.

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4. 58

   wilson51288posted 12 years ago

   Yes, obesity is an unwanted health issues in today's society. I would suggest to keep weight in control. Obesity give rise to many problem but heart and blood circulation problem which is a major issue now a days even in teens. Always try to have healthy food and do exercise regularly to keep your body healthy. Anything in excess or lacking can be bad. Same goes with health.

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5. 83

   Max Daltonposted 12 years ago

   In line with the comments from everyone else, yes, it's a problem. I also think it's one of the simplest things people can avoid. The biggest problem I see is that people who want to live a healthier lifestyle often don't ease into it and go full tilt right out of the gate, causing them to get quickly discouraged. People need to start simple. If you like watching TV, you can probably find a gym with tons of tons in front of a variety of treadmills. If you can't get out of your house, try doing some pushups during commercials. And if you can't find half an hour every other day for a quick walk, you must be a very important person.

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6. 60

   Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

   It's not a problem for me.

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7. 57

   ftclickposted 12 years ago

   2/3 of Americans think it is not a problem to be overweight (25+ pounds). While other healthy people who they bump into are not the norm now.  Isn't that something? Overweight is not a problem? Be serious. You as a employee or business owner are now more prone to:
   
   1.) missing days of work due to NOT being healthy
   2.) more prone to sicknesses and diseases
   3.) as a parent, prone to have kids who are overweight
   4.) as a consumer allowing the manufacturers to produce more crap foods since you consume the junk.
   5.) lower educational standards; facts are there too. Alumni from top schools are largely NOT overweight. Highly educated, CEO's, leaders and the ilk are not largely overweight. You may give me one or two while I can give you 100 fit leaders and CEOs.
   
   People who interview for a job and are overweight are more likely to see the fitter person hired than someone who is lazy in other areas of life. When you weigh both applicants, all other things being equal. The evidence is overwhelming. 
   
   So, don't be content with taking the short cut or excuses of no time to work-out and/or eat healthier.
   
   
   There are tons more examples and facts. It is really incredible this question would be asked but I understand if their immediate community is 25+ pds overweight. I largely blame it on the food manufacturers because I can go overseas and get to the right weight simply by not having such abundancies of breaded junk or substitute sugar like the US does.  I think people eat the same are less active but there is more chemical junk in foods today than 20 to 30 yrs ago.
   
   If you are a very important person, don't you think it is in your best interest to remain around and be at your utmost health.

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8. 0

   icountthetimesposted 12 years ago

   It's a problem if it results in your health being damaged, or if it makes getting around more difficult. You only have one body and being alive is a gift, so people should think twice about abusing their body. Also, many people in the world are unfortunate enough to be born into situations where very little food is available. I think, with such injustices in the world we should appreciate that to be the case, and not endlessly gorge ourselves just because we can.

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   creativebutterflyposted 12 years ago

   Yes it is a health problem if you are really overweight and it should be addressed for lots of reasons

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10. 58

    HarveySmith123posted 12 years ago

    Being overweight can also affect a person's joints, breathing, sleep, mood, and energy levels. So being overweight can affect a person's entire quality of life.

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11. 59

    rlahaposted 12 years ago

    Yes, however it depends upon how much overweight you are. If you are up to 10 pounds overweight for your height, and you have a within normal range BMI (body mass index which is Weight in Kilograms divided by height in Meters), then you don't need to worry about your weight. The BMI is the most important thing here, more than the actual weight.  If you are 10 pounds overweight and your BMI is above the normal range for your height and weight, there could be some serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  The best thing would be to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and get exercise to keep yourself fit and to keep your BMI within the normal range.

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