Implications of Being Overweight

July 7th, 2010

Life insurance companies use BMI (body mass index) to work out if they can offer you normal rates when calculating your premiums. This is an out of date method of assessing insurability as everyone is different. There is margin for error and it is best used as a weight range rather than a specific weight for a given height.
Lifebroker has some tips to help you lose weight the healthy way

• If you are someone who has not exercised for years you should not rush into running three miles every day. Exercise needs to be increased slowly.
• If you eat a lot you could experience problems if you drastically reduce your calorie intake. Make sure you introduce changes slowly and compliment them with short walks and other forms of light exercise.

It is obvious that increasing exercise and eating sensibly will produce weight loss. Make sure you exercise in a variety of ways and find an activity that you like and can afford as it is more likely to become habitual.
For those of you who hate going to a gym:

• When you next got to your local park incorporate longer walks
• Always use the stairs instead of the lift
• Get off the bus a stop before the usual one and walk the rest of the way
• Use commercial breaks to stand up and do exercise
• Consider using an exercise bicycle in your living room while watching TV

For most of you it is a simple case of eating less and eating more healthily. Don't crash diet as you could end up getting weaker or giving up completely in desperation. It is obvious - cut down on fatty food and do more exercise.

Losing weight allows us to grow old gracefully. We gain weight as the years go by, but if you gain more than say 20lbs compared to your weight when you were 20 will rapidly increase the risk of health problems due to being overweight and having a high BMI.

If you want life insurance but are overweight speak to Lifebroker and see what we can do for you.