The battle of the bulge is a beast that destroys health and self-esteem. Oprah Winfrey and I along with millions of Americans – children and adults – feel the pain every day.
When I learned about Oprah’s plight of regaining 40 pounds that she struggled so hard to lose, I said, “Oh, no.” When I learned that she now weighs 200 pounds, I said, “I’d kill to weigh 200 again.” I’ve been trying to break 200 for 25 years and have lost an aggregate of 200-plus pounds only to regain it. Last year, I managed to lose 70 pounds, and I’m down to 270 after a lengthy and arduous weight war.
I’ve tried everything, including hypnosis 25 years ago when I lost 60 pounds. No matter what I’ve done, the weight eventually came back. I, along with Oprah, and others are locked into this recurring drama.
Being overweight is troublesome, but obesity, that complex chronic disease, is alarming. Obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, reports the American Obesity Association.
Obesity in the U.S. has reached a milestone. The National Center for Health Statistics states that more people are obese than overweight. The statistics center released stats Sunday that show 34 percent, or 72 million adults, were obese; 32.7 percent were overweight; and 6 percent were morbidly obese, according to a survey in 2005-06. The center is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I fit into the morbidly obese category because I have a Body Mass Index of 47 based on 5-3 height and 270 pounds; Oprah’s BMI is 32.3 based on a 5-6 height and 200 pounds. The BMI is a measure of body fat based on one’s height and weight. According to the CDC web site: an adult BMI below 18.5 is underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, or a healthy weight; 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight; and above 30.0 is obese.
Sometimes there’s more to weight gain than simply eating more calories than we burn. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, studies have found that obesity is associated with increasing rates of major depression, bipolar disorder, panic and other disorders. These issues along with thyroid problems, like Oprah has, and eating disorders — such as bulimia, compulsive overeating, and emotional eating — compound the problem.
It’s obvious that weight gain is attributed to something other than lack of will power. Obesity is the symptom than spawns deadly consequences. A holistic approach is needed to combat obesity. There’s really no magic pill to take it off and keep it off. Weight-loss surgery has its own set of risks, but for many those risk pale in comparison to the risks of obesity. Whatever the strategy, it’s a struggle that Oprah and the rest of us sad souls must strive to win.
For too many of us, our lives depend on it.
– Joyce E.
