According to new government health statistics, for the first time, more than four in ten women in the United States are obese.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 40 percent of women are obese, compared to 35 percent of men. Officials say this could be due to lack of diet and exercise, and portion control.
Clinical dietitian, Susan Wiseman says a normal body mass index or BMI is 18.5 to 24, but someone with a BMI over 30 qualifies as obese. One way to combat the problem is curbing over eating and focusing on healthy eating. She is holding sessions to speak with people about healthy eating and the 'my plate' method where she says people should choose nine or ten inch plates instead of 12 inch plates. "There can be 500 calories more in a twelve inch plate than in a nine or ten inch plate, but half of that plate you want to be fruits and vegetables, low calories, very nutrient dense, another quarter of it would be your grains, and then the other quarter would be your meats, there is a glass of low fat milk or yogurt, and then just also just using oils, margarines, salad dressings sparingly."
Wiseman is holding an informational session for adults at the St. Marys Community Public library on Tuesday, June 21st at 6:30pm.
