Graphing Two Variables

There are compelling numbers related to weight loss. The annual revenue of the United States weight-loss industry is twenty billion dollars and the number of people on a diet is one hundred and eight million ("ABC News", 2012). There are a great number of people who struggle with their weight. Over one-third of adults in America are considered to be obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit and Flegal, 2012). Many diseases that plague the population can be avoided by simply changing our diets and exercising, such as, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

As you have read many people invest to lose weight and live healthier lives. I chose to write this essay on this topic because I am one of the one hundred and eight million on a diet. I would like to share what I have found on my journey and hope it helps others.

To effectively lose weight there are a few steps a person should take. The first is to figure out their Basal Metabolic Rate. According to Bumgardner  (2012), "Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns at rest to maintain normal body functions. It is the amount of calories per day your body burns, regardless of exercise. It changes with age, weight, height, gender, diet and exercise habits.”  To figure a person’s BMR they would need to use the following equation and plug in the values accordingly.

* Adult male: 66 + (6.3 x body weight in lbs.) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)

* Adult female: 655 + (4.3 x weight in lbs.) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

Let’s say a woman that is 5 feet 5 inches tall and is 39 years old weighs 180lbs wants to go on a diet and doesn’t know where to start. She would first figure out her BMR.

655 + (4.3 x 180) + (4.7 x 65) – (4.7 x 39) = 1546.5 calories is what her body needs every day to maintain a healthy life style.

There are 3500 calories in one pound ("How Many Calories in a Pound.com", 2012).  So to lose one pound of weight, 3500 calories...