Do you get it? Does your weight put you at risk? Published Jan. 9, 2012 By Health and Wellness Center 319th Air Base Wing GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The number of overweight Americans is increasing, and unfortunately the United States Air Force does not escape this statistic. There are many risks associated with obesity; some of these are recognizable while others can be silent killers. The more recognizable risks include joint and back pain, respiratory diseases and obstructive sleep apnea. Some other medical risks include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and some cancers -- especially breast and colon. Losing a few pounds can greatly decrease the risk of these diseases. Fat Distribution Men and postmenopausal women tend to store fat in the abdomen area, creating what is known as the "apple" shape. This tends to increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Premenopausal women, however, tend to store fat around their buttocks and hips, which is known as the "pear" shape. Fat stored in this region tends to increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Measurement Techniques as a Risk Prevention Method There are a variety of methods used to measure health risks. A commonly known method is the body mass index assessment. This measures an individual's weight for height, and uses a scale to assess an individual's risk for disease. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute link (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm) can help you calculate your BMI. If your BMI is greater than 30, weight loss would be beneficial. If your BMI is between 25-29.9, you may consider weight loss if you have any risk factors associated with your weight. There are a few cases in which the standard classifications for BMI measurements do not reflect the individual's disease risk. Some athletes who are very muscular can be classified as overweight considering muscle weighs more than fat. However, this is a small percentage of the population. To take this factor into account there are a couple other routinely performed assessments - the skin fold and abdominal circumference tests. The skin fold test measures the amount of subcutaneous fat an individual has and uses that to estimate the overall body fat percentage. This test may not accurately reflect the amount of visceral fat an individual has, which is the internal fat that surrounds the organs. Visceral fat is the most dangerous type of fat to store because it is the most metabolically active. To measure visceral fat, the abdominal circumference test is administered to assess health risk. An increased amount of visceral fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. What can you do? Whether you're looking to lose weight or just to get in better shape, there are many options for everyone. The Health and Wellness Center provides a number of nutritional classes, one being the Living Lean class. This class provides nutrition information as well as teaches you how to calculate your personal calorie range to lose, gain or maintain weight. It also provides resources to track your calorie intake and offers ideas for meal plans. There are also various exercise classes offered at the HAWC, such as the running clinic and strength training classes. Additionally, yoga classes are offered to target stress management. Contact the HAWC at 701-747-5546 or gfhawc@us.af.mil. Find us on Facebook as "Grand Forks AFB HAWC" to get continual updates about special programs and classes offered.