It is well known that obesity can have dire consequences on your health, increasing your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea and heart attack. It is now also known that obesity can mean additional problems for men including infertility, erectile dysfunction and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

To determine a healthy weight, BMI (body mass index) is thought to be more reliable than using someone’s weight alone. To determine your BMI, there is rather lengthy equation involved. It may be easier to visit a website with a BMI calculator like the one at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.  Once you punch in the needed information, you will be given your BMI result. For adults, a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m² means that that individual is overweight. A BMI of 30 kg/m² or above indicates obesity.

It is currently estimated that about 66% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. It has also been shown that obese men are more likely to suffer from male reproductive problems and prostate cancer. One trial showed that an increased BMI was associated with a higher incidence of prostate cancer.  This same trial also showed that men who lost an average of 11 pounds, decreased their risk of this type of cancer.

Other studies have shown an association between increased BMI, decreased sperm motility and increased erectile dysfunction. There are many ideas as to why these relationships occur. For example, it is thought that men with a higher BMI are prone to having higher estrogen levels and decreased testosterone levels. By decreasing the BMI, it is thought that these hormone imbalances correct.

 Fortunately for men and their physicians, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) have developed guidelines for treating obesity. These guidelines address many different weight loss interventions including diet, increased activity, behavior modification and surgical intervention.  The guidelines tell us that the initial goal should be a 10% decrease in body weight over about 6 months. This is equal to about 1 to 2 pounds per week.

There are a number of recommendations the guidelines put forth to accomplish this weight loss. First of all, it is recommended that one decrease their caloric intake by about 500 to 1000 calories per day. This would be equivalent to a diet for about 1200 to 1600 calories per day. The guidelines also recommend gradually increasing physical activity over time. Gradually working up to moderate and high-intensity activities such as jogging, swimming, cycling or skiing are encouraged. The ultimate goal should be at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week.

In addition to diet and exercise, the guidelines also suggest utilizing tools like food and exercise journals. They also suggest medication intervention, but only after diet and exercise has been tried for at least 6 months. Surgery is reserved as a last option for those patients with severe obesity (BMI of 40 and over) who are at high risk of obesity-related problems and who have tried non-surgical weight loss methods and failed.

 Prevention is always the key. Proper diet and exercise to maintain a healthy weight should always be a top priority. For those that find themselves needing to lose a few pounds, the guidelines put forth by the NHLBI are a great place to start for recommendations on how to be successful. As always, talk with your doctor before starting a weight loss regimen, particularly if you have preexisting medical conditions such as heart disease. Your doctor is a valuable source of information and could be a great ally in your quest to get healthy.