Racial bias prevents many people from attending adequate schools, entering promising careers, and accessing adequate healthcare. This bias also affects where they can find suitable housing, and that housing may contribute to health difficulties brought on by pollution or vermin infestation. The situation, undeniably, is untenable, and anyone who believes in human rights will find each of these impediments anathema.

All the above is clear, but taking the situation two steps further will reveal the hidden extent of the potential damage raining down on anyone who is a victim of this bias. And, most disturbing, this further damage to health happens in the medical realm.

Socioeconomic factors lead to health risks such as asthma, and the need for ongoing, accurate treatment for asthma is mostly with inhalers. The condition is so severe that frequent emergency treatment is sought. Compared with white people with asthma, African American people with asthma are five times more likely to visit the emergency room for symptoms.

One of the inhalers of choice for asthma is albuterol, and here, again, there is a problem with treatment. A study of over 1,400 children revealed a genetic lack of appropriate response to this drug in some patients. And problems in sampling were apparent. We and others have documented the implications and challenges posed by the lack of non-European study populations in biomedical research. Sampling bias is at the heart of one major problem in device engineering.

Once asthma treatment is sought, there still needs to be a resolution to the underlying measurement problem. While in the ER, how is the oxygen level of these patients determined? The usual initial route is to get a quick level using an oximeter slipped on a finger. It’s a rapid and supposedly accurate measure of how much oxygen the patient has in their blood; vital information.

Who questions the oximeter readings? The assumption is that the task is accurate because the device is FDA approved, made by a reputable company, and has been used for years in hospitals. But that conclusion is patently false.

The validity of the readings was made primarily on persons of European descent. How accurate would they be on anyone who did not meet that criterion? The answer would seem obvious.

Studies dating back to 2005 show pulse oximeters tend to overestimate the amount of oxygen a patient with darker skin may actually have in their blood. It’s simple physics: Melanin in skin absorbs some of the light the devices analyze to make their readings. The darker the skin, the more melanin there is, and the less light passes through.

If the readings are wrong, how does that have an impact on treatment? Again, no question that there is a bias in oxygen levels leading to changes in medical care.

The FDA issued an alert on oximeters, but did everyone dispose of their older, inaccurate devices in healthcare and the home? Other factors affect these readings, including poor circulation, skin pigmentation, skin thickness, skin temperature, current tobacco use, and use of fingernail polish.

NASA had developed guidelines and devices for more accurately measuring blood oxygen, but the corporation involved in it changed its marketing direction and the device was dropped.

We know that the disturbing use of oximeters tested in Japan (with a relatively homogenous population) may lead to delays in treatment in persons with darker skin. How is this permissible? It’s not, and the NASA devices should be considered again.

The post The Medical Device That May Lead to Harm in People of Color appeared first on Medika Life.

However, the habit of eating takeaway and delivery meals give a contribution to obesity global burden. In the United Kingdom, around 33% of adults were living with obesity. It is predicted that the prevalence of obesity will increase up to 35% in 2025.

A recent study from UK showed that consumption of takeaway and/or delivery meals was associated with higher BMI and percent body fat in both sexes. Individuals with high body mass index (BMI) often eat delivery and takeaway meals, while those with low BMI and percent body fat usually consume home-cooked meals.

There were 5,197 participants in this study, with 2,841 women and 2356 men. This study examined the association between consumption of different types of meals and BMI or percent body fat.

The researchers used data from the UK Biobank in response to a “Type of Meals Eaten” survey, which specified the sources of the meals consumed over the previous 24 h. They analyzed data with meal choice as the dependent variable first and then BMI as the dependent variable second due to the unknown direction of causality.

BMI and percent body fat were higher in individuals reporting consumption of takeaway and delivery foods the previous day.

Dine-in was also associated with higher BMI and percent body fat among men, but not women. Men and women who have higher BMI consume homecooked meals less. A previous study also reported that people who often had their meals at dine-in restaurants were more likely to be overweight or obese.

The researchers said this could happen because people who consumed takeaway meals had on average higher daily energy intake in comparison with people who rarely consume this type of meals and were more likely to have obesity or be overweight.

In contrast, people who consume homecooked and home-prepared meals have normal BI and normal percent body fat. Moreover, it was noticed that people who consume homecooked meals >5 times a week were 28% less likely to be overweight and 24% less likely to have excess percent body fat.

“Our investigation supports the widespread suggestion that eating homecooked and prepared meals was less likely to be linked with obesity,” the researchers said. “If the associations are causal, then delivery and takeaway foods may present a suitable target for intervention studies to reduce obesity.”

Takeaway food tend to make people fat because it is usually high in fat and salt, to stimulate appetite, making appetite, making them an attractive combo for food manufacturers — and low in vitamins and minerals.

The reason how consumption of home cooked meals can give dietary benefits could be attributable to healthier food preparation methods, increased dietary variety and/or consumption of healthier food groups. It may also be due to decreased intake of convenience foods, which tend to priorities ingredients such as fat, sugar and salt to increase palatability and preservation, over those for optimizing health.

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It is possible to eat yourself into disease, even cancer. Not just one form of cancer, but MANY, 13 at last count.

Many know of the connection between obesity and diabetes, high blood pressure, and so-called “high cholesterol.” Also, you may be aware of links between obesity and heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and many other conditions.

Much less known, but every bit as real and life-threatening is the connection between obesity and malignancy, the general medical term for cancer.

“Obesity” is not a term of shame or blame

Before I go on though a little information about the term “obesity.” It sounds pejorative, blaming/shaming, as though doctors are pointing fingers and calling people names. “You’re obese,” or “You’re morbidly obese” we seem to be shouting.

But, these are NOT terms of blame or shame. Rather, they are simply medical definitions that doctors actually must use in their charts to describe certain characteristics of some patients.

BMI or Body Mass Index

Many are familiar with the term BMI or Body Mass Index. This is simply a ratio of height to weight.

BMI is not the only measure of ideal body weight. For example, some muscular people have high BMIs but are actually lean, fit, and healthy with a low percentage of body fat. They are not obese.

Generally, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 puts you in the overweight category. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or greater. Morbid obesity occurs when BMI is 40+.

Find your BMI on this table.

Again, BMI alone does not define perfect health. Nor is it the one and only measure to determine the risk of various health problems.

However, the connection between obesity and cancer is compelling and alarming.

The obesity-cancer connection

From the National Cancer Institute, this is the current list of cancers associated with being overweight and/or obese.

• Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus)
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma
• Gastric cardia cancer (cancer of the stomach’s upper region)
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Meningioma (cancer of the brain’s covering membrane)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Gallbladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Thyroid cancer

Realize that no one has proven that obesity causes cancer, only that there’s an association between obesity and cancer. This is like the discovery early on that smoking and lung cancer are related. In other words, smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop lung cancer (and, and it turns out many other diseases and conditions). Proof that smoking CAUSED lung cancer came later. That may be the case too for obesity and cancer. The “jury is still out” on this issue though.

Right now though medical scientists have these ideas about why obesity increases cancer risk.

Chronic inflammation

The chronic low-level inflammation seen in obese individuals may cause DNA damage leading to cancer.

Excess estrogen

Fat cells (adipocytes) produce excess estrogen which is associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers.

Increased insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1

As levels of these substances rise in the human body so too does the risk of certain cancers.

Other hormones and substances

Obesity may affect the number and type of cells the body produces, which may in turn lead to cancer. Cancer at its simplest level is unregulated or “dysregulated” cell growth, cell growth not under normal control.

Scope of the problem

As of 2012 experts estimated that 100,000 Americans per year develop overweight-related or obesity-related cancers.

What can you do?

Present medical evidence suggests that minimizing weight gain during adulthood lowers cancer risk. Weight loss — if you’re obese — may do the same, but the evidence here is less clear.

Reality check

I am well aware that weight gain is not always under one’s personal control. A wide variety of medical conditions predispose people to weight gain and the development of obesity.

However, a substantial percentage of obese Americans are obese because of dietary overindulgence and lack of physical activity.

So, do what you can do on your own to lose weight and talk to your doctor or other healthcare professionals about weight loss programs and options that work. Diet generally don’t, in spite of their promises. Lifestyle changes and other measures do.

My situation

I’m not a skinny person. I was a skinny kid, but during my teen years and early adulthood I could properly have been described as “husky,” a kind term for overweight. I’ve never met the BMI definition of obese.

As of this writing, my BMI hovers between 26 and 27, not bad, but not ideal. I’m working on it. I have noticed that since becoming a vegetarian weight loss is easier to achieve (I won’t go into it here but I challenge you to watch two videos, “Forks Over Knives” and “Earthlings.” If you’re not a vegetarian after viewing those I’d be stunned.)

Also, I lose weight when I travel. Guess what, less easy access to excess food — particularly the standard American diet — coupled with more physical activity and, like magic, I lose weight. In 2003–2004 I lived in Amsterdam without a car. Like the Dutch, I either rode my bike everywhere or walked and took public transportation. I arrived there weighing 210 and dropped to 190 in short order and stayed there. My height didn’t change, 74 inches. More recently, in March of 2020 as a 65-year-old, I worked on a farm in New Zealand. I’m still 6’2″ and I arrived in NZ at 210 and dropped to 200 within 2 weeks.

Best of luck on your journey to better health and hopefully less risk of developing cancer and other maladies.

Resources I relied on while preparing this article.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet

The post Cancer — 13 Different Types Are Related to Being Overweight or Obese appeared first on Medika Life.

Calorie Calculator

About this calculator

The Calorie Calculator can be used to estimate the number of calories a person needs to consume each day. This calculator can also provide some simple guidelines for gaining or losing weight.

The post Calorie Calculator appeared first on Medika Life.

Navy Body Fat Calculator

About this Calculator

Body Fat Ranges

The American Council on Exercise Body Fat Categorization

Jackson & Pollard Ideal Body Fat Percentages

Body Fat, Overweight, and Obesity

The scientific term for body fat is “adipose tissue.” Adipose tissue serves a number of important functions. Its primary purpose is to store lipids from which the body creates energy. In addition, it secretes a number of important hormones, and provides the body with some cushioning as well as insulation.¹

Body fat includes essential body fat and storage body fat. Essential body fat is a base level of fat that is found in most parts of the body. It is necessary fat that maintains life and reproductive functions. The amount of essential fat differs between men and women, and is typically around 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. The healthy range of body fat for men is typically defined as 8-19%, while the healthy range for women is 21-33%. While having excess body fat can have many detrimental effects on a person’s health, insufficient body fat can have negative health effects of its own, and maintaining a body fat percentage below, or even at the essential body fat percentage range is a topic that should be discussed with a medical professional.

Storage fat is fat that accumulates in adipose tissue, be it subcutaneous fat (deep under the dermis and wrapped around vital organs) or visceral fat (fat located inside the abdominal cavity, between organs), and references to body fat typically refer to this type of fat. While some storage fat is ideal, excess amounts of storage fat can have serious negative health implications.

Excess body fat leads to the condition of being overweight and eventually to obesity given that insufficient measures are taken to curb increasing body fat. Note that being overweight does not necessarily indicate an excess of body fat. A person’s body weight is comprised of multiple factors including (but not limited to) body fat, muscle, bone density, and water content. Thus, highly muscular people are often classified as overweight.

The rate at which body fat accumulates is different from person to person and is dependent on many factors including genetic factors as well as behavioral factors such as lack of exercise and excessive food intake. Due to varying factors, it can be more difficult for certain people to reduce body fat stored in the abdominal region. However, managing diet and exercise has been shown to reduce stored fat. Note that both women and men store body fat differently and that this can change over time. After the age of 40 (or after menopause in some cases for women), reduced sexual hormones can lead to excess body fat around the stomach in men, or around the buttocks and thighs of women.

Measuring Body Fat Percentage

U.S. Navy Method:

There are many specific techniques used for measuring body fat. The calculator above uses a method involving equations developed at the Naval Health Research Center by Hodgdon and Beckett in 1984. The method for measuring the relevant body parts as well as the specific equations used are provided below:

• Measure the circumference of the subject’s waist at a horizontal level around the navel for men, and at the level with the smallest width for women. Ensure that the subject does not pull their stomach inwards to obtain accurate measurements.
• Measure the circumference of the subject’s neck starting below the larynx, with the tape sloping downward to the front. The subject should avoid flaring their neck outwards.
• For women only: Measure the circumference of the subject’s hips at the largest horizontal measure.

Once these measurements are obtained, use the following formulas to calculate an estimate of body fat. Two equations are provided, one using the U.S. customary system (USC) which uses inches, and the other using the International System of Units, specifically the unit of centimeters:

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for males:

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for females:

Note that results of these calculations are only an estimate since they are based on many different assumptions to make them as applicable to as many people as possible. For more accurate measurements of body fat, the use of instruments such as bioelectric impedance analysis or hydrostatic density testing is necessary.

Fat mass (FM) formula:

FM = BF × Weight

Lean Mass (LM) formula:

LM = Weight – FM

The post Body Fat Calculator appeared first on Medika Life.

Ideal Weight Calculator

About this calculator

The Ideal Weight Calculator computes ideal bodyweight (IBW) ranges based on height, gender, and age. The idea of finding the IBW using a formula has been sought after by many experts for a long time. Currently, there are several popular formulas, and this Calculator provides their results for side-to-side comparisons.

Age

In theory, age shouldn’t be a large determinant of a IBW past the ages of 14-15 for girls and 16-17 for boys, after which most people stop growing. It is actually expected that human males and females to lose 1.5 and 2 inches in height respectively by age 70. It is important to remember that as people age, lean muscle mass decreases and it is easier to accumulate excess body fat. This is a natural process, though it is possible to lessen the effects of aging by adopting various habits such as monitoring diet, exercise, stress, and sleep.

Gender

Generally, females weigh less than males even though they naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. This is because the male body generally has higher muscle mass, and muscle is heavier than fat. Not only that, but women generally have lower bone density. Last but not least, males tend to be taller than females.

Height

The taller the person, the more muscle mass and body fat they have, which results in more weight. A male at a similar height to a female should weigh about 10-20% heavier.

Body Frame Size

Body frame size is another factor that can have a significant impact on the measurement of ideal weight. Body frame size is typically categorized as small, medium, or large boned. It is measured based on the circumference of a person’s wrist in relation to their height, as shown below.

For women:

• Height under 5’2″
  • Small boned = wrist size less than 5.5″
  • Medium boned = wrist size 5.5″ to 5.75″
  • Large boned = wrist size over 5.75″
• Height between 5’2″ and 5′ 5″
  • Small boned = wrist size less than 6″
  • Medium boned = wrist size 6″ to 6.25″
  • Large boned = wrist size over 6.25″
• Height over 5′ 5″
  • Small boned = wrist size less than 6.25″
  • Medium boned = wrist size 6.25″ to 6.5″
  • Large boned = wrist size over 6.5″

For men:

• Height over 5′ 5″
  • Small boned = wrist size 5.5″ to 6.5″
  • Medium boned = wrist size 6.5″ to 7.5″
  • Large boned = wrist size over 7.5″

A person who is large boned will naturally weigh more than someone who is small boned, even at the same height, making body frame size a factor that can affect measurements such as IBW and BMI.

Formulas for Finding the Ideal Weight

IBW formulas were developed mainly to facilitate drug dosage calculations. All of the formulas, have the same format of a base weight given a height of 5 feet, with a set weight increment added per inch over the height of 5 feet. For example, if you are a 5’10” male estimating your ideal weight with the Devine formula, you would add (2.3 × 10) kg to 50 kg to get 73 kg, or ~161 lbs.

The formulas differ in the values used based on the research of the scientists involved in their development, and their findings. The Devine formula is the most widely used formula for the measurement of IBW.

G. J. Hamwi Formula (1964)

Invented for medicinal dosage purposes.

B. J. Devine Formula (1974)

Similar to the Hamwi Formula, it was originally intended as a basis for medicinal dosages based on weight and height. Over time, the formula became a universal determinant of IBW.

J. D. Robinson Formula (1983)

Modification of the Devine Formula.

D. R. Miller Formula (1983)

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BMR Calculator (Basal Metabolic Rate, Mifflin St Jeor Equation)

About this calculator

The are the three equations typically used by BMR calculators, of which the Mifflin-St Joer equation is considered the most accurate and it is the oneused by this calculator.

Mifflin-St Jeor Equation:For men:BMR = 10W + 6.25H – 5A + 5For women:BMR = 10W + 6.25H – 5A – 161

Revised Harris-Benedict Equation:For men:BMR = 13.397W + 4.799H – 5.677A + 88.362For women:BMR = 9.247W + 3.098H – 4.330A + 447.593

Katch-McArdle Formula:BMR = 370 + 21.6(1 – F)W

where:
W is body weight in kg
H is body height in cm
A is age
F is body fat in percentage (Click here for our Body Fat Calculator)

BMR Variables

Muscle Mass – Aerobic exercise such as running or cycling has no effect on BMR. However, anaerobic exercise, such as weight-lifting, indirectly leads to a higher BMR because it builds muscle mass, increasing resting energy consumption. The more muscle mass in the physical composition of an individual, the higher the BMR required to sustain their body at a certain level.

Age – The more elderly and limber an individual, the lower their BMR, or the lower the minimum caloric intake required to sustain the functioning of their organs at a certain level.

Genetics – Hereditary traits passed down from ancestors influence BMR.

Weather – Cold environments raise BMR because of the energy required to create a homeostatic body temperature. Likewise, too much external heat can raise BMR as the body expends energy to cool off internal organs. BMR increases approximately 7% for every increase of 1.36 degrees Fahrenheit in the body’s internal temperature.

Diet – Small, routinely dispersed meals increase BMR. On the other hand, starvation can reduce BMR by as much as 30%. Similar to a phone that goes into power-saving mode during the last 5% of its battery, a human body will make sacrifices such as energy levels, moods, upkeep of bodily physique, and brain functions in order to more efficiently utilize what little caloric energy is being used to sustain it.

Pregnancy – Ensuring the livelihood of a separate fetus internally increases BMR. This is why pregnant women tend to eat more than usual. Also, menopause can increase or decrease BMR depending on hormonal changes.

Supplements – Certain supplements or drugs raise BMR, mostly to fuel weight loss. Caffeine is a common one.

BMR Tests

Online BMR tests with rigid formulas are not the most accurate method of determining an individual’s BMR. It is better to consult a certified specialist or measure BMR through a calorimetry device. These handheld devices are available in many health and fitness clubs, doctor offices, and weight-loss clinics.

Resting Metabolic Rate

While the two are used interchangeably, there is a key difference in their definitions. Resting metabolic rate, or RMR for short, is the rate at which the body burns energy in a relaxed, but not fully inactive state. It is also sometimes defined as resting energy expenditure, or REE. BMR measurements must meet total physiological equilibrium while RMR conditions of measurement can be altered and defined by contextual limitations.

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BMI Calculator – Body Mass Index

About this Calculator

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is widely used in medicine and whilst it is reasonably reflective of the average population, it is criticized as the limited data it uses is not reflective of other groups such as athletes and pregnant mothers.

An athlete using the BMI calculator would be shown as being obese, despite being obviously healthy and often lean. If you don’t fit into the general norm, consider using the other calculators listed below for a more accurate evaluation of fat content and general health.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

The BMI score means the following:

Waist Circumference

Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.

The waist circumference tables below provide you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases or conditions.

Risk Factors Associated With Obesity

Along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:

Risk Factors

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)
• Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)
• High triglycerides
• High blood glucose (sugar)
• Family history of premature heart disease
• Physical inactivity
• Cigarette smoking

For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, it is recommended that you lose weight. Even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. People who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have fewer than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.

Talk to your doctor to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease.

The good news is even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing those diseases.

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