SILHOUETTE PEAR SHAPED OR APPLE?

A good weight, healthy heart. True, but this year's World Heart Day on September 25 also stresses the importance of the silhouette. In this way, it would draw attention to the particularly harmful effects of an excessive waistline. And if this was an opportunity to take stock?

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If the motto of the World Heart Day is "A Heart for Life", the year 2005 focuses on weight and shape health. Indeed, reducing the excess weight has a direct impact on the risk factors of cardiovascular disease and stroke: obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. Speaking of weight is not enough, since we now know that being overweight located at the waist is the most formidable. It is precisely in this sense that the watchword in preventing heart was chosen: "Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape".

Your body is pear shaped or apple?

The pear-shaped silhouettes accumulate fat on the hips and buttocks. In contrast, the apple-shaped figures tend to gain weight located around the waist. Now people with a waist too are more likely to develop heart disease.These topics at the apple-shaped figure must strive, even more than the others, maintaining a healthy weight and to conduct regular screenings for cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure. Accordingly, it is important to measure his waist (just below the navel): Beyond 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women, the risk is real. Beyond 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women, the risk is much greater. To reduce cardiac risk, it is necessary to maintain a healthy weight, while all abdominal obesity should raise the alarm. A regular report (cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure) is essential. Warning danger:

• Cholesterol levels greater than 2 g / l and HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) less than 0.35 g / l.
• Blood pressure greater than 14 / 9.
• FPG greater than 1 g / l.

Some advice for a healthy heart

• Adopt a balanced diet: rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and low in fat.
• Limit salt and sugar products (candy, pastries, cookies, chocolate bars?).
• Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day and avoid sugary drinks (soda, fruit juice?).
• Systematically take a breakfast and meet three meals a day.
• Adopt healthier cooking methods like steaming, and drop the fried foods and other preparation methods requiring the addition of fat.
• To resist the temptation to plan the composition of meals in advance.
• A minimum of 30 minutes of brisk walking per day for adults and 60 minutes of physical activity for children.
• Reduce time spent watching television by increasing physical activity more: gardening, walking, cycling, ball games?
• Daily: climbing stairs, walking whenever possible, to the detriment of the car and public transport.
• Encourage schools to serve healthy meals and increasing physical education programs.