No. Being overweight means being a little above the standard weight tables. This could be due to a large frame or excess muscle, as in the case of bodybuilders.

Obesity on the other hand is an accumulation of excess fat. Excess unused calories form body fat.

Click here for a table showing suggested weights in relation to height with the last column indicating what would be considered obese.
Weight Table

How effective is dieting?

The word "dieting" can mean different things to different people. Some regard dieting as reducing the amount they eat or going for a day without eating at all.

Others regard dieting as being selective in the foods they eat.

Drastically reducing the amount we normally eat can have reverse effects. Weight may be lost initially, but this consists mainly of water and muscle. When the weight returns it comes back as fat.

To avoid this, an exercise routine is very important.

A whole industry has sprung up around dieting with hundreds of programs advertised making sweeping claims. Caution therefore is wise before considering any program.

Some researchers regard low-calorie diets as no longer appropriate. They explain that putting the body on a low-calorie food intake makes it think it is starving. The result? It becomes more efficient at storing fat by slowing down the metabolism.

Additionally, many persons are unable to maintain a strict regimen, denying themselves the things they enjoy, for long periods of time. At the end they return to those foods with gusto and experience a major weight gain.

How important is drinking water and what is an ideal daily intake?

There is no doubt that drinking plenty of water is essential for good health, for without sufficient water we would be poisoned to death by the build up of toxins in the body.

Not drinking enough water can result in excess body fat, poor muscle tone and a decrease in digestive efficiency.

Water is crucial in digestion and metabolism for it aids in the carrying out of various enzymatic and chemical reactions. One doctor says that water intake is a key to weight loss.

Why?

Because without sufficient water the body cannot metabolize the fat and it begins to retain fluid, which in turn keeps the weight up.

Just how much water should a person drink each day?

Many doctors recommend about 10 eight ounce glasses per day. Another says that anyone overweight should drink an extra eight ounces of water for every 25 lbs which exceeds their ideal body weight.

It is good to spread the water intake throughout the day, drinking no more than four glasses at any one time.

While many beverages contain water, the effect of drinking tea, coffee, beer, soft drinks, is not the same as water itself. These beverages contain ingredients which may interfere with the positive effects of extra water.

There is no substitute. If you want to maintain a healthy weight level, drink lots of water - just water!

What about the frequent urination problem if water intake is increased?

The bladder may be sensitive at first to the larger quantity of fluid intake resulting in frequent visits to the bathroom.

After some weeks however, the bladder will stabilize and a person will urinate less frequently but in larger quantities.

How important is exercise in maintaining weight control?

In reducing body fat, focus should be given to increasing exercise rather than decreasing food intake.

There is a significant relationship between lack of exercise and increase of fat

Many doctors recommend that a person who wants to shed fat should begin exercising immediately.

This does not necessarily mean exhausting work outs every other day.

Walking is one of the best exercises for controlling weight and strengthening bones. The time spent walking is more important than the speed.

It is much more effective to exercise while maintaining a balanced food intake, rather than dieting without physical exercise.

Interestingly, a cream is now available which helps a person lose weight without doing exercise.

A thin layer of cream is applied to the affected area such as stomach, thighs, buttocks, and massaged into the skin. The natural ingredients in the cream make the body sweat the fat away, pushing fat cells out of the body.

This is particularly useful for persons who are not able to exercise due to a physical problem or other reasons.

Aren't the dangers of obesity exaggerated?

In a word, NO!

There is so much medical evidence now to show that obesity can pose a major threat to health and a person's life span.

Excess body fat is often connected to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

An overweight person takes more energy to breathe because the heart has to work harder to pump blood to the lungs and the excess fat in the body. This can result in high blood pressure and erratic heartbeats.

Some believe that body fat can become a storage place for cancer causing agents (carcinogens) in both men and women.

Obesity can also cause the pancreas to produce more insulin which the body uses to control blood sugar levels. The result is that a person's system becomes overwhelmed and diabetes results due to the poor regulation of blood sugar and insulin.

Long term consequences of diabetes include heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputation and death.

Obesity is also linked to gall bladder disease, gastro-intestinal disease, sexual dysfunction and cerebral hemorrhage.

How can I educate myself about healthy eating and weight control?

The internet provides an amazing tool for research. There are thousands of health sites and medical reference sites containing information.

Just enter "weight loss" into any search engine and you will be rewarded with an abundance of leads.

However, this information overload can be overwhelming.

An ebook (electronic book format) which is immediately available and contains a very concise coverage of all aspects of diet and weight control is now available.