Obesity: A National Epidemic
Obesity is one of our nation’s foremost health problems and is directly link to numerous other diseases, including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. In December 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General sounded the alarm, releasing a “Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity.” The Call to Action included some frightening obesity statistics:
- Nearly 40 million American adults are obese
- The national obesity average jumped from 12% in 1991 to 19.8% in 2000
- Some 300,000 Americans die from obesity-related diseases every year — making obesity second only to smoking as a leading cause of premature death in the U.S.
Drs. Roland Sturm of Rand and Kenneth Wells of Rand also studied our national obesity epidemic and discovered that the health risks associated with obesity are greater than those associated with smoking, drinking or poverty. According to the study, the findings suggest that weight reduction should be an urgent public health priority.
By stimulating weight loss, Ephedra products can be a valuable weapon in the battle against excess weight , and as research shows, weight loss helps cut the risk of other health problems. It is very important that you read products labels, warnings and cautions and follow the directions. Ephedra is not for everyone and must be used responsibly.
You can determine whether or not Ephedra products can help you in your overall health program by first calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a tested method to determine if you should be concerned about your weight. Of course, you should contact your physician or other health care professional to obtain specific information and advice concerning your weight and health.
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