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"My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things,

and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well."

There is wisdom in the ancient Jewish saying, “Trust God, but tie up your camel.” Basically we do need to trust God for keeping us safe from harm, but we need to use common sense in protecting ourselves, especially our health. There are unhealthy trends in our country that we need to attend to. The following articles alert us to ways to prevent an array of physical illnesses. Recent research shows the cause of all of these physical concerns has been traced to being overweight. A number of people have asked me about Alzheimer’s disease. Surely the traditional Lutheran “fourth sacrament” or the coffee hour after services is not the only thing that is contributing to the girth of some of our members. Please consider the following quotes and consider if you need to change the way you care for your body.

Alzheimer's Alert

“Recent research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has opened the door to a key realization -- it appears that conditions known to increase risk for cardiovascular disease also increase risk for AD. In particular obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension and elevated cholesterol have been linked. However, the way these conditions connect to AD has thus far been a mystery. Now, though, a new study may have the answer -- and the connection is obesity.

Samuel Gandy, MD, PhD, Thomas Jefferson University, Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Philadelphia, Pa. discusses the implications of the study. Dr. Gandy is also the vice chairman of the Alzheimer's Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. He says that beta-amyloid, produced from improperly metabolized "amyloid precursor protein," as of yet has no known purpose in the body, but that it can congregate and build up because it builds up in the brains of people with AD.”

For more information, go to: http://www.alz.org/about_us_national_board_of_directors.asp

Overweight or Obese? Your BMI Knows!
By Roz Roscoe, Health Resources Staff Writer

Is “America the beautiful” becoming “America the obese?” The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older—over 60 million people—are obese! These numbers are alarming when you consider how they can affect your health.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases, including hypertension… diabetes… heart disease… stroke… and even some forms of cancer! Although one of the national health objectives for the year 2010 is to reduce adult obesity to less than 15%, obesity statistics show many adults are packing on the pounds at an even greater rate.

One thing you can do to improve your health is maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). This number measures you body weight in relation to your height. You can use you BMI to help you determine if you’re underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. BMI tables for children are available from the CDC... just click here.

To use the BMI table for adults provided below:

1.	Find your height (in inches) in the left-hand column.
2.	Move your finger across the same row to find a number closest to your weight.
3.	Move your finger to the top of that column to see your BMI.

Medical officials have set the ideal BMI between 19 and 25 kg/m. If the word at the top of your column says your BMI is anything other than normal—you might consider adopting a healthier eating and exercise routine.

Tables provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. For more information, go to: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/obe/obe_whatare.html

Table 1 – BMI less than 35

	NORMAL						OVERWEIGHT					OBESE
BMI	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35
Height (inches)	Body Weight (pounds)
58	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158	162	167
59	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173
60	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	174	179
61	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174	180	185
62	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180	186	191
63	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	175	180	186	191	197
64	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192	197	204
65	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210
66	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204	210	216
67	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211	217	223
68	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216	223	230
69	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	209	216	223	230	236
70	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229	236	243
71	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236	243	250
72	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242	250	258
73	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250	257	265
74	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256	264	272
75	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264	272	279
76	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	254	263	271	279	287

Table 2 – BMI Greater than 35

	OBESE				EXTREMELY OBESE
BMI	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53
Height (inches)	Body Weight (pounds)
58	172	177	181	186	191	196	201	205	210	215	220	224	229	234	239	244	248	253
59	178	183	188	193	198	203	208	212	217	222	227	232	237	242	247	252	257	262
60	184	189	194	199	204	209	215	220	225	230	235	240	245	250	255	261	266	271
61	190	195	201	206	211	217	222	227	232	238	243	248	254	259	264	269	275	280
62	196	202	207	213	218	224	229	235	240	246	251	256	262	267	273	278	284	289
63	203	208	214	220	225	231	237	242	248	254	259	265	270	278	282	287	293	299
64	209	215	221	227	232	238	244	250	256	262	267	273	279	285	291	296	302	308
65	216	222	228	234	240	246	252	258	264	270	276	282	288	294	300	306	312	318
66	223	229	235	241	247	253	260	266	272	278	284	291	297	303	309	315	322	328
67	230	236	242	249	255	261	268	274	280	287	293	299	306	312	319	325	331	338
68	236	243	249	256	262	269	276	282	289	295	302	308	315	322	328	335	341	348
69	243	250	257	263	270	277	284	291	297	304	311	318	324	331	338	345	351	358
70	250	257	264	271	278	285	292	299	306	313	320	327	334	341	348	355	362	369
71	257	265	272	279	286	293	301	308	315	322	329	338	343	351	358	365	372	379
72	265	272	279	287	294	302	309	316	324	331	338	346	353	361	368	375	383	390
73	272	280	288	295	302	310	318	325	333	340	348	355	363	371	378	386	393	401
74	280	287	295	303	311	319	326	334	342	350	358	365	373	381	389	396	404	412
75	287	295	303	311	319	327	335	343	351	359	367	375	383	391	399	407	415	423
76	295	304	312	320	328	336	344	353	361	369	377	385	394	402	410	418	426	435