Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 2, 1 February 2004 — Healthier lifestyle a choice we all can make [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Healthier lifestyle a choice we all can make

Aloha mai kākou. One month ago, most of us bravely took a stab at crafting goals we hope and wish to achieve in 2004. Among the top five New Year's resolutions is the ever so popular goal to lose weight. So how many of us chose to lose weight this year? We constantly hear about Hawaiians and obesity, so I'm sure many have chosen to make a healthy ehoiee to reduce the old waistline. I sincerely hope so! Have you noticed how many more television commercials and newspaper ads promoting weight loss and exercise programs appear in the months of December and January? I'm no media/news expert, but we are not all made of money and many of these programs are costly. For those who ean afford to join a big name weight loss program or a fashionable gym, consider yourself fortunate to have this luxury. My only comment on this subject is if you choose this method to reach your goal to lose weight, keep at it and don't give up so easily. Of course, there are other alternatives to lose weight without the name-brand programs and fancy

gyms. There are no monthly fees to pay to walk/run around the neighborhood park or the office building. Many people have easy access to weight rooms at schools, work and/or community centers. Ask your friends and family about exercise options they may have available to them. If you have access to a computer, surf the web for dietary support through articles and reports. Your community libraries provide computers for just this kind of surfing. While at the library, eheek out references relating to making healthy choices. It is always important to consult your physician before starting a weight loss plan, especially if you are overweight and/or experience health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension. Sometimes it is not clear if one falls into the category of "overweight" or "obese." One way to get an idea of what category of weight your body falls into is to find out what your body mass index (BMI) is. BMI is the measurement of body fat based on height and weight. BMI ealeulators are available on-line at http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ and

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/. The calculator will compute your BMI in the form of a numeric figure whieh would fall into one of the following categories: A BMI less than 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5-24.9 is considered normal, 25-29.9 suggests the person is overweight and 30 or greater suggests the individual is obese or extremely obese. I myself have chosen to live a mueh healthier lifestyle in whieh I've incorporated a dietary meal program along with making healthier food choices. I don't consider these changes to be a strict diet, merely a smarter way to eat without all the hassles of a diet. My staff and others tell me that these health-

ier choices have improved my figure. The best part is, I feel better, am more physically active and am off both diabetes and hypertension medication as a result of weight loss and increased activity! If you are interested in the details drop me a line and I'll give you the scoops. Here's the bottom line: The sooner you "wrap your life" around healthy choices, the sooner you will be a healthier person. As always, my staff and I invite your advice and counsel on the above or any other concerns within our purview. My OHA access numbers are: phone 594-1854 and e-mail address: dantec@oha.org. A hui hou. ■

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Dante Keala Carpenter Trustee, O'ahu

Body Mass Index (BMI) Table Normal Overweight Obese Extreme Obesity BMI 19-24 25-29 30-39 40-54 Height Body Weight (lbs.) 60" 97-123 128-148 153-199 204-276 64" 110-140 145-169 174-227 232-314 68" 125-158 164-190 197-256 262-354 72" 140-177 184-213 221-287 294-397