The New (Ab)Normal

According to the CDC: "The average restaurant meal today is more than four times larger than in the 1950s."

This cartoon infographic from the CDC proves it! Bigger portions could be one of the factors behind an increasing population of obese Americans. However a recent study from the UK suggests obese people are not inherently at risk for cardiovascular disease. What gives?

"The people really at risk are the ones who have obesity in combination with other metabolic health risk factors," said Mark Hamer, a principal research associate at University College London who worked on the study.

These results match previous research that defined metabolic health as having normal levels of markers like blood pressure, blood sugar, HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, which is a measure of inflammation in the body.

So should you go ahead and enjoy that 12 ounce burger? Probably not. Dr. Cora Lewis, a professor of preventive medicine and an epidemiologist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, who was not involved in the research was quoted by Reuters as saying, "only "a minority of people" fit the description of "metabolically-healthy obese."

Keep track of your weight with a bathroom scale, and don't neglect monitoring blood pressure with a home blood pressure monitor, and body fat percentage with a hand held body fat analyzer. Always get a yearly check-up and watch your portions!