Research: Is it Safer Now to be Obese?

I think there is now a conflict as to what obesity is using the body mass index (BMI). In a recent study Danish researchers report that the risks associated with being obese have dropped drastically within the past 40 years.

According to their report people with a BMI of 27 are at the lowest risk of death from all causes. Interestingly, when you have a BMI of 27 you are considered "overweight" but this classification was adopted by the W.H.O long before the 1990s...

So what's going on?

"The startling finding stems from work led by Dr. Borge Nordestgaard, a clinical professor with the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

The analysis stacked BMI data against all-cause death statistics among three groups of Danes: 14,000 enrolled in a heart study during the mid-1970s; 9,500 enrolled in the same study in the early 1990s; and more than 97,000 who were enrolled in a lifestyle study between 2003 and 2013.

Today's weight classifications peg normal weight as having a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9. Those with a BMI of between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight, while anyone with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. BMI is a measurement based on height and weight.

The result in the Danish analysis: In addition to obesity-related early death risk dropping to normal-weight levels, the team found that the BMI level linked to the lowest rate of all-cause early death had gone up by more than three units, rising from 23.7 in the 1970s to 27 in 2013."

It is quite obvious that people are bigger now than they were back in the 1970s and I don't think it would bea bad idea to come up with new definitions of "underweight", "normal", "overweight" and "obese".

However, some don't seem to agree with the theory of "things have changed" in relation to bigger people living longer. They attribute the longevity to improvements and advancements in medical science and technology.

According to Lona Sandon an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern medical centre, Dallas:

"I do not believe it has necessarily become safer to have what is classified by U.S. National Institutes of Health as an overweight BMI," she said.
"A big difference between the decades is advances in drug treatment and other medical treatment that has helped people live longer, with or without overweight and obesity, and associated conditions," Sandon added.
But that does not mean being overweight has become healthier than in the past. It simply means that "doctors can just treat symptoms better," she cautioned.

Well what do you think?

Source

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20 Suggestions To Kick Off Your Organisation's Wellness Program

You don't need a million bucks to create,promote and maintain a
culture of wellness.

Here are some ideas:
1) Form a wellness committee involving staff across every level and department.
2) Post healthy tips on your notice/memo boards.
3) Hold monthly health/Lunch hang outs hosted by randomly selected staff.
4) Organise fitness competition or challenge.
5) Make healthy snacks and fruit available in your staff lounge.
6) Schedule 10minute stretch breaks every day.
7) Promote a "hand washing" culture by placing reminders in strategic places.
8) Subsidize health club membership for your staff.
9) Put up signs at the car park and elevators that sensitize staff to
walk or use the stairs.
10) Start a sport club; like soccer, volleyball or basketball and
organise competitions.
11) Have regular onsite blood pressure screenings.
12) Have onsite screenings for blood sugar and cholesterol.
13) Offer incentives like spa treatment for employees who have shown
commitment to adopting healthy lifestyles.
14) Organise regular workshops on stress management.
15) Carry out periodic Health Risk Asessments on staff.
16) Organise motivational talks for staff.
17) Offer marriage and parenting education for staff.
18) Offer finance and investment training to staff.
19) Include tips on healthy living in your monthly newsletters.
20) Develop a wellness resource center or library.

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Why this Job?

You are satisfied with your job when you achieve the fullest measure of contentment with what you do and everything about it. Do you love what you do? Do you love how you do what you do?

Job satisfaction leads to the elimination of tension and boredom in the workplace which will improve your efficiency in your organization.

How to Achieve and Maintain Job Satisfaction

1.     Ensure You are in The Right Job

What are your preferences? What are your interests? Are you an extrovert or introvert? Do you prefer dealing with people directly or dealing with things? Some Lawyers deal with people directly while others prefer developing legal documentations. They are both lawyers but with different interests and strengths.

If you love your profession but not your job, you may have to change your method and “adjust” your job description. You may even be a doctor; you love helping people, but the hospital environment is not just working for you. You may function better in a community or public health setting. It all lies within your preferences and strengths.

2. Ensure You are Consistently Improving Yourself

Probably when you got this job, it was the best fit ever. Everything just fell in place; your skills, interests and strengths…but now you feel bored and dull. What could have gone wrong? All you need is more “wood in your fire”.

To maintain your zeal you have to keep feeding yourself with information on what you’re passionate about. Study more about your career and venture into new areas. Take up new challenges and try new methods in your field. I don’t know of any top chef who doesn’t take up the challenge of coming up with new recipes.

You can’t keep doing the same things the same way, day in, day out, you’ll get bored! Try something new, do something extra. You’ll be better for it.

The brain has an instinctual urge for new experiences; learning helps your brain grow and thrive.

3.     Ensure You have Personal Retreats

The path of self discovery should be a deliberate road you choose to walk. You need to take time off to reflect; on yourself, your job and your life in general. Give yourself an appraisal! That will not happen on regular work weeks, so I’ll advise you do this during your leave. If you can take up to three breaks off work, every year, that would be great.

During this retreats you will come up with amazing ideas to improve yourself, relate with others and execute your job or business. You may even come up with a solution to that nagging issue in your office! During these times of self reflection, acknowledge also the little blessings in your life, including your workplace.

Having time to reflect helps you reason and analyze better without distractions. This job may actually be the right one for you!

In whatever job situation you find yourself you must realize that a high remuneration will never give you the contentment you so desire. Satisfaction is an inner desire that needs to be fed from inside. It comes from doing what you were born to do.

What were you born to do?

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