Dr. Joseph Parent's A Lifestyle Approach To Losing Weight WEIGHING THE FACTS! About 25 percent of women and 31 percent of men age 20 and older are considered obese, up from approximately 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively, in 1980. The number of people who say they need to lose weight increased from 31 percent in 1951 to 52 percent in 1990, according to the Gallup Organization. The average women fashion model is 5' 9" and weighs 123 pounds, according to a study by psychologists at Brandeis University. But the average American women is 5' 4" and weighs 144 lbs. More than 60 percent of American adults are not regularly physically active. In fact, 25 percent of all adults are not active at all. Overweight individuals who lose even relatively small amounts of weight are likely to lower their blood pressure, reduce abnormally high levels of blood glucose, bring down levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce sleep apnea or irregular breathing during sleep, decrease the risk of osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, decrease depression and increase self-esteem. To see if you fall into the "Overweight" category, check the chart on the next page and compare.

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