Obesity in Maine
- 63% of Maine adults weigh much more than they should and are considered overweight or obese.
- 23% of Maine adults are considered obese because they weigh 30 or more pounds than they should.
How Do I Know If I Am Overweight or Obese?
Calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) is one way to tell if you are overweight or obese. BMI is an indicator of body weight in relationship to height. This indicator can tell you if you weight more than you should for your height.
Why Should I Eat Well?
Good nutrition and a healthy diet:
- Keep your body working properly
- Are essential for getting to and maintaining a healthy weight
- Can increase energy
- May reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as: Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers
What Should I Eat?
Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins at every meal so your body gets the nutrients it needs to work properly.
Whole grains (brown rice, barley, bulgur, oats, rye, wild rice are examples) contain all three edible parts of the grain, are high in fiber and have many nutrients.
Refined grains (white rice, white bread) do not retain their nutrients and are not as nutritious.
Lean proteins include seafood, skinless meats like turkey, chicken, low or non-fat dairy products, and lean cuts of beef and pork.
Did you know that fewer than 1/3 of adults consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables per day?