While the media coverage of late leaves you with no surprise at all, obesity is growing by leaps and bounds! Particularly in today's modern western world, the ever increasing obesity epidemic is alarming.

Being overweight can leave you with a multitude of obesity related health problems. In medical speak, if you have a BMI, body mass index, of 30 or more, then you are considered obese. Now, that feels like an awful label to own. Your BMI is determined by assessing your height and weight and then comparing those two numbers. The proportion of height to weight makes up your BMI. Guess what, the higher the number the more at risk you are for obesity related health issues.

Essentially, obesity is a condition in which there is way too much fat being carried by your body... and today, obesity is reaching epidemic proportions.

The health concerns related to obesity are obvious and completely evident. It puts an incredible amount of strain and pressure on the joints. Over time obesity will actually cause so much pressure on the joints that they can actually break down leaving you with arthritis and lots of pain.

So here is the thing...when you gain excess weight, your body is going to begin to struggle against the extra weight and will begin to push back. You will develop aches and pain and struggles that you never knew existed. Then the rabid circle begins and you become less active and gain more weight, repeating this over and over again until something finally gives.

Beyond the everyday strain that it put on the joints by being obese, the lack of activity, the general poor eating habits will also cause strain to the heart and the blood vessels resulting in high blood pressure, a higher risk of stroke, and other circulatory health issues. Obesity can also lead to sleep apnea which is the temporary stopping of breathing during sleep.

Once the body reaches a state of obesity, the ability to reverse the trend is difficult. By this time, it's usually not just a battle against the weight problem, but a battle for one's self esteem and confidence that they can win the battle. Obesity can be overcome, but it takes patience and a long term approach. Not just a new 'latest' diet.

Talking with your physician is the best place to start if you are obese. Be honest and then suck it up and agree to stick to the plan to diet and exercise as laid out by your physician. You are going to have to work at it to reclaim your health. So step up to the plate and just do it!

Obesity did not happen overnight and neither will your weight loss. But you can regain your health and gain control over your weight issues if you make up your mind that you are going to do it. The obesity epidemic is definitely here, but for goodness sakes you do not have to contribute to it so heavily!

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