The Importance of Healthy Body Composition

A lot of the resolutions that get made in the first month of the year have to do with health, and a lot of them have to do with weight. Whether you’re overweight or of normal weight, you should be aware of the fact that body composition has a huge impact on your health. Even if your weight is within a normal range, you can still have an unhealthy or altered body composition.

What is unhealthy body composition? Generally speaking, it refers to carrying too much fat in comparison to lean tissue (like muscles or organs), and it’s often referred to as a high fat-to-lean ratio. As your body’s fat-to-lean tissue ratio increases, so do your health risks. In fact, unhealthy body composition often leads to obesity (defined as 30 pounds or more overweight). Obesity is a condition associated with many critical health concerns, including:

Heart Disease Stroke High Blood Pressure
Back Pain Kidney Disorders High cholesterol
Metabolic syndrome Osteoarthritis Type 2 Diabetes
Estrogen-related Problems Excess fatigue Some forms of cancer
Urinary incontinence Hysterectomy Respiratory Problems
Gallbladder disease Sleep Apnea Depression
and gallstones

What are the factors that contribute to unhealthy body composition? The following factors can easily lead to a high fat-to-lean ratio:

A high-fat, high sugar diet Excess alcohol intake
Lack of exercise Hormonal disorders
Overeating Parasites
Heavy metals and other toxins Trauma, chronic pain
Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism
Certain medications like steroids, antidepressants or anti-epilepsy drugs

Did you know?
More than 60% of the U.S. population is overweight, with over 25% of these considered obese.
Almost 30% of U.S. children and teens from 6-19 years of age are categorized as overweight. Over 70% of these adolescents have a chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
In America, approximately 47% of those who are overweight and 71% of those who are obese have high blood pressure.
Half of all overweight and obese adults have cholesterol levels higher than they should be (above 200mg/dL).
Approximately 25% to 33% of Americans have insulin resistance, which, if left unchecked, may develop into type 2 diabetes. About 70% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

These are astounding statistics, but you don’t have to take chances with yourself, your children, or your grandchildren. Good health and good health habits can be re-established, and many negative factors can be reversed through proper diet, exercise, and personalized nutritional support with professional guidance or lifestyle coaching. According to the National Institutes of Health, lifestyle modifications such as healthy nutrition, diet, and exercise are the preferred methods for achieving healthy body composition. Change your lifestyle… and change your life.

Reverse the looming symptoms of illness with FirstLine Therapy®, a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle modification that’s designed specifically for each individual.