This morning, Congress passed a bill to finally solve the obesity crisis in America. They voted to raise the body mass index (BMI), setting the new normal weight at 28-31.9, which were previously considered overweight or obese. Thousands of Americans once considered obese and at serious risk for several life-threatening diseases are now at their peak of health. They can continue to lead a non-active life and eat anything they wish, without the risk of being labeled obese.

BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height to be used as an indicator of body fat. This number is helpful in determining a person’s risk of health problems associated with obesity.

In the United States, the BMI average of adult men and women is about 29. By changing the scales to reflect the average body type in America, the obesity crisis will be more manageable and will hopefully be resolved within the next decade without anyone needing to change his/her daily lifestyle.

Thank you Congress!

April Fools!

Obviously the obesity epidemic cannot be solved by Congress changing the definition.

The current BMI scale is still in place:
Underweight = less than 18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = 30 or greater

An unhealthy diet and body weight can lead to several cancers including breast and colorectal as well as many other life-threatening diseases. At least one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States are related to obesity. By eating right and exercising regularly, you can maintain a healthy body weight to reduce your risk of these diseases.

Don’t be fooled!

Learn more about the lifestyle choices you can make to help prevent cancer at preventcancer.org.