Inflammation Common Factor in Obesity and Disease

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Nutrition Alert
By: Elizabeth Somer

To investigate the link between obesity, chronic inflammation, and disease, researchers at the University of California, Irvine measured inflammatory markers(such as C-reactive protein) in the blood and compared those values to weight and disease risk. Results showed that signs of inflammation doubled for each increase in body weight (as measured by BMI. People with high blood pressure and/or diabetes also had the highest markers for inflammation. The researchers conclude that there is a direct correlation between increasing overweight, the presence of obesity related diseased, and inflammation.

BMI (Body Mass Index) chart:

Underweight: BMI <18.5
Normal: BMI 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: BMI of 25 to 29.9
Obese:
Class I 30 to 34.9 Moderate
Class II 35 to 39.9 Severe
Class III >= 40.0 Very Severe

By Waist Circumference
Optimal: 35 inches or less (men)
32.5 inches or less (women)
Health Risk: 40 inches or more (men)
35 inches or more (women)