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Spotlight on Women’s Health

Spotlight on Women’s Health

Baudry Therapy Center/ BRIO shines a spotlight on women’s health. Here are some fun facts regarding women’s overall health, as well as a few tips to help women maintain a life full of BRIO!

Women’s Health Facts 

  • Women with a higher degree of abdominal obesity are especially susceptible to type 2 diabetes, and diabetic women have disproportionally higher relative risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than diabetic men.[1]
  • According to the most recent data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), [1] 20.2% of men (19.6 million) and 19.4% of women (19.2 million) were clinically obese (body mass index [BMI] _30 kg/m2 ), and 6.5% of men (6.3 million) and 8.2% of women (8.7 million) reported having diagnosed diabetes. [1]
  • In 2014, 39% of adults aged 18 years and over (40% of women and 38% of men) were overweight. [2]
  • Abdominal obesity rates are highest in individuals ages 60 years and older, and are higher in women than men at all ages. [3]

Tips & Tricks for Women [4] [5]

  • Eat healthy: eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains & limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol.
  • Be active: be active and maintain weight, reduce high blood pressure, diabetes, risk of heart disease and more!
  • Protect yourself and your family: wear helmets, seat belts, wash your hands and always be ready for emergencies!
  • Manage stress & pay attention to mental health: balance work, home and play, take time to relax, support your family and friends and get 7-9 hours of sleep each night!
  • Get check-ups: ask your doctor how you can stay healthy and get the proper exams, tests and shots you need!

Resources:

[1] Overweight and Obesity in women: Health Risks and Consequences. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/452831
[2] WHO http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
[3] Part D. Chapter 1: food and Nutrient Intakes, and Health: Current Status and Trends. Previously on http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/06-chapter-1/d1-5.asp but that page has been removed
[3] Tips for a Safe and Healthy Life. http://www.cdc.gov/family/tips/
[4] Women’s Health. http://womenshealth.gov/nwhw/about/