High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and death rates due to stroke are nearly 45%. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.

• Individuals who are obese have a greater chance of suffering from sleep disordered breathing, known as sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea have a greater risk of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and stroke.

• Diabetes is an individual risk factor for stroke. Help decrease your risk of diabetes and stroke by maintaining a healthy weight by eating well and being physically active. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.

• One way to help prevent having a stroke is by maintaining a healthy BMI.

• Research studies have shown that obesity is one of the risk factors that can be changed in order to help decrease your risk of having a stroke. Obesity can increase the risk of stroke by having excessive fat tissue throughout the body. This can lead to difficulty in blood flow and an increased risk of blockage, both of which can cause strokes.

• Obesity puts children at long-term higher risk for chronic conditions, such as stroke. Other conditions include hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Help to decrease your child's risk by helping them maintain a healthy weight with a heart healthy diet and daily physical activity

• With the growing number of children who are overweight and obese, there are more cases of stroke in younger individuals (below age 60). BMI in late adolescence is an important predictor of stroke and other heart disease in their adult life.

• Watch homocysteine levels

Homocysteine, an amino acid or building block of protein, is produced naturally in the body.

Researchers recently found that too much homocysteine in the blood may increase a person's chance of developing heart disease, stroke or other blood flow disorders.

• Homocysteine levels are determined by two key factors genetics and lifestyle. Genetic factors affect how fast homocysteine is processed in your body. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, affect homocysteine levels in another manner. For example, people with a high homocysteine level may have a low level of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. Replacing these vitamins with supplements or fortified foods may help return levels to normal. Low thyroid hormone levels, kidney disease, psoriasis or some medications may also cause abnormally high homocysteine levels.

• One out of every five individuals who are overweight is affected by a metabolic condition known as "Metabolic Syndrome." The factors that characterize this condition such as high blood pressure or insulin resistance can increase the individual's risk for developing more serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

• Two of the best ways to lower your risk of stroke is by eating a heart healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, eating sensible portions and being physically active on a regular basis. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.

www.obesitycontrolcenter.com