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Causes
People gain weight when their body takes in more calories than it uses to maintain normal functions, Hilliard said. “It’s a combination of poor eating habits and lack of exercise.”

Those extra calories are stored as fat in adipose tissues: loose connective tissue primarily located beneath the skin but also around internal organs, she said.

In a severely obese person, excess adipose tissue is seen hanging downward from the abdomen, often below the beltline. This “belly fat” is linked to higher cardiovascular risks, Hilliard said.

“Those extra adipose cells aren’t sleeping,” she said. “They affect metabolism, make you tired and cause your body to strive harder to control blood sugar levels and stay healthy.”

Obesity also increases the health risks for expectant mothers and their newborns, Hilliard said.

“Mothers are at increased risk for hypertension and diabetes, which adversely affects the baby’s health and increases the risk of birth defects,” Hilliard said.

Sidestep obesity
“The best way to avoid excess weight gain is by practicing sound eating and exercise habits,” Hilliard said.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid sugary snacks and soft drinks with empty calories.

Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. Just going for a walk 30 to 60 minutes each day will do you good, she said.

Find a support network. Some people have had success with Jenny Craig, Curves, Weight Watchers or NutriSystem, Hilliard said.

Forever Amber
“I was shocked to find I was obese,” said 5-foot, 9-inch Amber Bracewell, 25, who has lost 68 pounds since attending her first Weight Watchers meeting in August 2005.

She and her mother joined together to encourage each other.
“It’s very important to have a support system,” said Bracewell, a SAP trainer and systems supporter on the ERP team. “My mother was my inspiration. And I also got support from my co-workers.”

She’s especially grateful to those who reminded her to avoid diet-killing high-calorie foods and offered words of support.

“One good strategy was avoiding lunch buffets,” said Bracewell. “It’s crazy to go someplace where you’re challenged to eat all you can to get your money’s worth. You’re putting yourself in a position to fail.”

After losing 60 pounds, she met her boyfriend.

“Losing weight gave me the confidence to walk over and introduce myself to this cute guy in a restaurant,” she said. “I would never have done that before.”

Bracewell’s goal is to lose 10 more pounds.

“I know I’ll do it. I am a completely different person, now. More optimistic and cheerful about work and life,” she said. “I’ve made a lifelong commitment to never be fat again.

“And if I can do it, others can, too,” Bracewell said. “Begin gradually and stick with it.

“You’re worth it.”

Deane weighs in
“I’ve been telling people for years that obesity is the number one health problem in the United States,” said Larry Deane, a public health nurse IV and supervisor of the physical exam and drug-testing section of Human Resources. “I’d estimate that at least a third of our city work force is obese.”

After 40 years in public health, Deane has seen the consequences of obesity: diabetes, degenerative joint disease, stressed-out internal organs and bodies worn down by carrying more weight than they were intended.

Losing weight is difficult, Deane said.

“I lost 25 pounds over the last year, and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “Harder even than quitting smoking, because I could just walk away from cigarettes.

“But you can’t do that with food because we still gotta eat.”
He succeeded by eating in moderation.

“I’m not the type to count calories,” Deane said. “I ate smaller amounts and chose high fiber foods. And I had two salads for lunch on weekdays.”

One strategy was donating his clothes to Goodwill Industries every time he dropped a size.

“I went from a size 40 waist down to a 36 and gave my slacks away so I wouldn’t be tempted to go back,” Deane said.

He got more exercise by making a few simple lifestyle changes.

“Like parking in the garage. I would take the spot farthest away so I would have to walk the extra distance,” Deane said. “Losing weight isn’t rocket science. It’s a matter of consuming a little less than your body burns.

“When it comes to your weight, either accept it or lose it,” he said.

There’s always hope, Hilliard said. “Weight gain can be stopped.”

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