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According to a report recently released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of obese adults in this country has remained unchanged, with over one in three carrying excess weight. Despite increased awareness about the condition and multiple public health campaigns promoting healthier lifestyles, the country as a whole does not seem to be heeding the warnings about the risks of being obese, according to the government agency.
The CDC report found that 35 percent of American adults are obese, defined as an individual having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
The CDC and American Heart Association
In an interview with HealthDay News, Rachel Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, said that the CDC report shows that health educators still have a lot of work to do to lessen the epidemic. She noted that weight-loss surgery, the most common remedy to fight obesity, has been largely ineffective in dealing with the issue on a large scale. In addition, Johnson said that public health officials should do a better job of limiting the widespread availability of cheap, high-calorie foods.
“My view is that we have to start making some pretty major environmental changes so we make the healthy choice the easy choice,” Johnson told the source. “We’ve got to move beyond the idea that it’s all about personal choice and education, and we need to start making these environmental changes.”
Being overweight or obese greatly increases an individual’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Not only will maintaining a healthy weight help you prevent these illnesses, but it may also qualify you for lower life insurance rates. For a competitive quote on a term life insurance policy, visit our website to use our convenient online quote engine.
What about Dietary Changes?
The Nutritarian diet, created by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, is a whole-food, plant-based diet that emphasizes nutrient-dense foods and encourages people to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The goal of this diet is to provide the body with optimal nutrition, while reducing the consumption of processed foods, animal products, and added sugars.
The Nutritarian diet is based on the principle of “nutrient density,” which means that the focus is on consuming foods that have a high ratio of nutrients to calories. This includes foods like leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, berries, and other colorful fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
In addition to emphasizing plant-based foods, the Nutritarian diet encourages people to limit or avoid processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars. The diet also recommends that people limit their intake of animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs, and instead choose plant-based sources of protein like beans, lentils, and tofu.
The Nutritarian diet has been associated with a number of health benefits, including weight loss, improved heart health, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is important to note that the Nutritarian diet may not be appropriate for everyone, and it is always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.
Can Overweight and Obese Adults Still Find Good Life Insurance Rates?
Height and weight are key factors that life insurance companies use to help determine a person’s rate class and premium for coverage. There are guidelines that each company follows, and these may differ between various life insurance companies.
The average adult male in America is 5’9” tall and weighs 196 pounds according to the CDC. It also means the average adult male in America is overweight, according to their BMI charts. As if that wasn’t enough, if that man enjoys some great meals during the holidays and gains six little pounds, he’d then be considered obese.
As for women, we see an average height in the United States of 5’4”, with an average weight of 166 pounds. This is also officially “overweight” by CDC standards, but the average woman would still be able to qualify for the very best life insurance rates from most companies. She would have to pack on more than 120 pounds, on average, before she is turned down for coverage by some life insurance companies.
Can Obese People Find Great Life Insurance?
Yes! Those who are not at the “optimal weight” for their height and build can still find coverage that meets their needs. We’ve checked out some of the rules regarding weight guidelines and found a few interesting facts, like the fact that people who are of average weight can gain more than 100 pounds before they’re unable to buy life insurance at an excellent rate.
In this example, our man who stands at 5’9” would have to weigh over 300 pounds, in general, before he would have trouble buying life insurance from some providers. Keep in mind, however, that every company has its own guidelines that it uses to determine eligibility and rates.
Our experts at lifeinsure.com know which companies are most liberal and how various companies’ height and weight tables are different from others.
The main reason why people with higher BMIs have higher premiums is that those who are heavy tend to have a lower life expectancy, based on calculations from insurance underwriters.
Here’s an example of how weight affects premiums: A man standing 5’11” and weighing 246 pounds would pay $330 more annually for a $500,000 policy than a man of the same height who weighs 50 pounds less, standing at 196 pounds. A woman would pay about the same increased amount for weighing 50 pounds more than her counterpart, as well.
What the CDC Charts and Build Charts Really Mean
If you take away anything from this article, keep in mind that even those who are overweight can qualify for decent life insurance rates, as long as there are no other health problems that would bump up the premiums. The bottom line is, don’t be alarmed by the CDC’s BMI weight classifications. In general, you have to be extremely obese to be denied at multiple companies for life insurance.
Remember: Each insurance company is different. Click here to start with instant term life insurance quotes, return of premium term life insurance quotes, or contact us so we can shop the market for the best rate for you.
How Do Insurers Know Your Weight?
Although you might think you’d be able to write down an inaccurate height and weight on your application for life insurance and get by with lower rates, your numbers will be verified during your life insurance medical exam anyway. In addition, it’s recommended that you not go on a crash diet before your exam, because most companies will pull your history from several months or even years back. This history is more influential than your weight at any single point, and once your life insurance policy has been issued, there’s no way for companies to tell if a policyholder has gained weight or not.
Additionally, if you apply for no-exam life insurance and are not truthful on the application, the insurance company can investigate your application if you die within two years of the issue date.
You can find insurance company height and weight guidelines here.
To learn more about getting life insurance if you are overweight, call the insurance professionals at LifeInsure.com at 866-868-0099 or contact us through our website.
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