The World Health Organization says, "more than 1 billion adults [this means one in six of the world's population] are overweight of which 300 million are now classed as obese." If these numbers are correct, this would mean that the overweight population now out numbers the under-nourished population of the world by some 800 million people.



"Does this make me look fat?" Unfortunately for many women that question may have become more and more relevant. Research has shown women have a much higher chance of suffering from obesity than men. The most obvious difference and main reason for higher obesity levels in women is the female metabolism which is much slower than their male counterparts.

Recent studies have also indicated that obese women seem to face a lot more job discrimination and earned less than women of normal weight with a similar education and job. Socially, obesity can create a lot of personal discomfort for women sufferers. Family members along with teachers and healthcare professionals seem to be more biased against obese girls and women than boys and men. Shopping for clothes becomes a real hassle. Not being able to participate in activities such as sports or amusements parks because you cannot fit on the rides means always having to miss out on the fun. After time, all these social situations begin to take a toll at a mental level, creating very low self-esteem.

Obesity has now become an economic problem – a pandemic problem that effects the whole of our medical system. From a healthwise point of view, obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in women by twice the rate in men, as well as heart problems (which is the number one killer amongst women), high blood pressure, stroke, and possibly cancer. In addition, the constant need for doctor's visit, testing and medication can lead to many thousands of dollars in bills that healthcare plans barely cover, if at all.

Professor Donald Laymen, whose 2005 study was published by the Journal of Nutrition, reported that higher protein diets, when combined with exercise, meant dieters tended to lose fat rather than muscle. But how much can a study really influence our personal life? Can these studies serve as a motivational platform for us to start on that long road to a better life?

With what seems like thousands of weight loss programs out there, picking which one is best for you is a job in itself. Most doctors agree that the real secret to a successful long term program is to cut down the size of the meals we eat. Stay away from "Super Size" meals, eat early in the evening before 7:00 pm, exercise at least 4 to 5 times a week for 30 minutes and so forth and so on. Real weight loss is a lifestyle change. Something many of us find too hard to stay with for any amount of time. The facts are all there, we choose to ignore them at our peril.