Nearly 30 percent of American adults are overweight and another 30 percent are obese, according to University of Minnesota researchers. Obesity is usually described as a weight 20 percent greater than persons desirable weight.

A study by Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle revealed that 60% of overweight women, and 70% of obese women, are likely to become pregnant while taking pill. The researchers suggest that a higher metabolism is reason, causing medication to be effective for a shorter length of time. Or, that drug interacts with body's hormones in a way that drug becomes trapped in body fat instead of circulating in bloodstream.

Studies with obese pregnant women show they are 50% more likely to die during pregnancy than those of normal weight. Complications such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor, and stillbirth are also more common. Preliminary evidence shows that babies are also adversely affected, and are more likely to be obese themselves in later life.

Fast foods: Studies show that people who frequent fast food outlets twice a week or more gained 36 pounds over course of 15 years compared to 26 pounds for those that frequented them once a week or less.

A major factor for obesity crisis is a sedentary lifestyle, not enough exercise, and eating of high calorie fast foods in place of nutritious natural food products.

Fast food is designed to promote consumption of maximum number of calories in minimum amount of time. This upsets body's normal metabolism. One solution is to eat smaller, more nutritious, meals more frequently throughout day.

Physical activity reduces effects of being overweight, but healthy eating habits have to be followed to prevent disease associated with poor nutrition according to an expert of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.

The new diet guidelines set by Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture is basically a balanced diet and good old fashioned exercise. They stress more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and limit fats, sugar, alcohol, and salt.

Many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day making a choice of healthy food available at all times.

For more tips on how to lose weight safely see The Secret to Weight Loss at: http://www.apluswriting.net/diettips/diettips.htm

***************************************** Author: Marilyn Pokorney Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net *****************************************

Cooking & Food Recipes

So we come to culinary arts. Yes, using essential oils in cooking, does open up new exciting paths for taste of foods. Even food industry uses these oil to enhance and create new taste treats. The only problem is, because they are produced on a larger scale, mush of essential oils strengths are no longer present. However, you in your own kitchen, can make up for that little oversight. Herbs, spices, citrus, fruits, and flowers, are essential main oils you will be using in kitchen. Use them to elevate taste of soups, breathe life into vegetables dishes, and addict taste buds with cakes and desserts, among other dishes.

Domestic Pet Care

Still in awe of many benefits and uses of aromatherapy? Essential oils help keep ticks, fleas and other diminutive creatures, off your dog for less than there commercial chemical counterparts. Watch as you help your dogs' coughs, colds and flu become more manageable and disappear with essential oils niaouli, eucalyptus and tea tree. It's not just dogs than can benefit from aromatherapy, but cats, rabbits, hamsters and horses. Essential oils offer many remedies and solutions for taking care of your domesticated little friends and companions, saving you a dreaded and expensive trip to vet.

Garden Guards

Using essential oils in your garden, can prove to be one of wisest decisions you'll ever make. Many commercial garden products like pesticides, fungicides or wood preservatives, can wreck havoc in form of dangerous poisoning, not just on pest and bugs, but in inevitable foods you're growing that will end up in your stomach. The beautiful flowers and plants, you'll be sniffing and touching will definitely have some sort of toxic effect on you, because of chemicals sprayed on them. This is where using essential oils as a natural alternative, will not endanger your health. The functions of certain essential oils in plants before they were extracted, shows that they were able to protect against bacteria and viruses. The strong antibacterial and antiviral properties in essential oils, are also known for effectively dealing with fungi and mold. Essential oils also deter and prevent pest and insects from harming your garden.

Ancient Miracle

Aromatherapy offers you a choice between toxic chemicals and natural ones that will enhance and beautify your existence on planet. In addition, it presents to you gift of acquiring inexpensive solutions to your expensive ones. A chance to naturally take care of your pets as they take care of your happiness and self-esteem. Beautify your self safely without harmful monsters of chemical cosmetics and live like royalty with taste of foods fit for gods. Furthermore, aromatherapy offers miracle of effective healing and treatment that do more good than there chemical brothers.