The benefits of maintaining an ideal body weight are well known. Organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys have less pressure and are able to function normally. By reducing weight you significantly reduce the risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, breathing problems, arthritis and cancer. In fact even a small amount of weight loss goes a long way. Even reducing weight by 10% substantially decreases the chances of developing obesity related diseases.

Apart from maintaining an ideal BMI or body mass index, it is also important to assess how fat is distributed in the body. Abdominal fat causes production of hormones and other body chemicals that can lead to development of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. In fact a study released today showed that an increase in the waist size by about 2 inches raised the risk of premature death by 17% in men and 13% in women. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and 359,387 people in nine countries.

Body Mass Index is the standard medical method of assessing weight. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. An ideal BMI is 19 to 24.9. For women, waist measurement of 35+ inches and for men 40+ inches signals abdominal obesity.

Regular exercise, diet and herbal supplements are the best methods to reduce obesity.

You may also be interested in the following articles

Natural ways to reduce weight

Herbs that burn fat - Weight Loss with herbal remedies

Waist to Hip ratio can be a health indicator

Servings sizes, Vitamins, Folate and Calories of Fruits and Vegetables

Weight loss alone should not be the focus of obesity control. Body fat levels are a more important measure of health

References:

The Medical Advisor - The complete guide to Alternative & Conventional Treatments

Himalaya Herbals Company



Products for Weight Loss & Normal Cholesterol

Garcinia
Suppresses appetite, inhibits lipid synthesis

Gymnema
Inhibits sugar craving, maintains cholesterol and blood serum levels

Guggul
Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, burns fat