Do you think obesity or being overweight is just a cosmetic concern? If you are thinking the same, you are highly mistaken. Being overweight or obese is not only about your physical appearance. However, it is more about your internal health. Obesity is considered a Chronic medical illness that holds the capability to lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and others.
Obesity and being overweight are usually associated with cardiovascular disease and several factors for cancer. It is quite challenging to deal with obesity and its related problems. However, with the help of dietitians and healthcare professionals, you can heal yourself completely. Now is the right time to look further for treatment to get rid of the upcoming risk factors. Medications and diets are very helpful in bringing down weight. Though the treatment is long-term and you need to have enough time to see the changes in yourself. With the help of a positive lifestyle and increased physical activity and proper diet habits can help you shed your excess weight.
What are obesity and being overweight?
Obesity is the specific term that is used for the weight of the human body more than the average or as per the medical requirement. The term obesity also varies based on the field. In general, obesity and overweight are seen as weight greater than the actual healthy weight. Obesity is also called a chronic condition which is defined as an excess amount of body fat.
Weight is usually measured based on body mass index (BMI) theory. The BMI of every individual is different and it is determined by the person’s height and weight. BMI or we can say body mass index equals the person’s weight in kilograms and it is further divided by the height in meter square.
In the United States, obesity has become an epidemic. Over two-thirds of adults and one in three Americans are overweight or obese. Children are now significantly more likely to be obese. The prevalence of obesity roughly doubled between 1991 and 1998, and it has been rising quickly worldwide. Nearly 40% of adults in the United States were obese in 2015.
What are the common reasons for obesity and being overweight?
Though there are several reasons for obesity and being overweight. However z if we talk about the scientific cause then it is determined as the balance between calorie intake and energy expenditure. If an individual consumes more calories than the requirement of their body then they will not be able to burn or metabolize, and this person can gain weight. If an individual intake fewer calories then they will lose weight. Overeating and less physical activity or exercise is the most common cause of obesity.
- Genetics is also considered the reason for obesity. In most cases, a person is more likely to develop overweight if their parents are obese. Due to genetic factors, hormones are involved in fat regulations. Leptin is the hormone that is produced in fat cells in the placenta. Leptin is responsible for controlling weight. This hormone further goes ahead with the offspring and leads to being overweight.
- Due to less physical activity and exercise, being overweight is the cause. People who have a sedentary lifestyle where they have to sit at their job to sit mostly suffer from obesity. This is because sedentary people are not able to burn calories as compared to active people. Afterward, it is stored in the form of fat and causes obesity.
- Poor diet is the most effective reason to cause obesity. Poor diet and lack of proper nutrition can lead to calorie increase and thus cause obesity. Most of the time people are more addicted to consuming simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates and sugar-rich food lead to excess calories in the body. The primary role of simple carbohydrates is to increase blood glucose levels and also stimulate insulin release by the pancreas. Mainly insulin released by the pancreas promotes the growth of fat tissue and leads to weight gain.
- Weight gain results from overeating, especially if the diet contains a lot of fat. High-energy-density foods (foods with a lot of calories in a little amount) include fast food, fried foods, and sweets. Diets high in fat have been linked to weight increase, according to epidemiologic research.
- Emotions can impact eating behaviors for certain people. In response to feelings of boredom, unhappiness, tension, or rage, many people overeat. Approximately 30% of those who seek therapy for major weight problems struggle with binge eating, even though most overweight people experience no more psychological disturbances than people of normal weight.
- Several medical conditions like hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, PCOS, and Diabetes also contribute to weight gain.
How to prevent obesity?
Because of your gradual weight gain, a family history of obesity, a health condition that is associated with obesity, or even simply a general concern for maintaining your health, you may be worried about preventing obesity. Whatever your motivation, the objective is deserving. Prevention from obesity is crucial to prevent yourself from disease. With the help of the right prevention steps, you can control your weight accordingly.
Preventing obesity can also help you to reduce the risk of a host of associated health conditions including cardiovascular disease cancers and more. A combination of a healthy diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mindful lifestyle choices can go a long way in preventing obesity. For additional support, some individuals explore tools like a Wegovy prescription online, which can assist in weight management when paired with a healthy lifestyle. Consulting with a healthcare professional can help determine the best approach tailored to your needs.
- Balanced Diet
One of the most effective and scientific ways to control your weight is by opting for a balanced diet. A balanced diet for the overweight plays a major role in providing the required nutrients and calories to your body. Obesity can be prevented with the following basic healthy eating steps.
- Make sure to consume five to seven small servings of whole fruit and vegetables every day. Eating fruits and vegetables is more susceptible to obesity prevention. Fruit and vegetables contain higher amounts of nutrients and are also associated with a lower risk of Diabetes and insulin resistance.
- It is crucial to avoid processed foods. Highly processed foods are needed to avoid at all costs.
- Make sure to reduce sugar consumption. It is crucial to keep the intake of added sugar very low.
- Drink more water and stay hydrated. make sure to avoid artificial drinks or alcohol.
- Ensure that you consume meals with a low GI. The glycemic index (GI) is a scale that assesses how rapidly food may increase blood sugar levels in a person. Concentrating on low-GI foods can assist in stabilizing blood sugar levels. Controlling your blood glucose levels can aid in weight loss.
- Bring the family along for the trip. Adults need to feel supported too; social support isn’t just for kids and teenagers. Engaging others can support the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, whether it is through cooking with the family or taking walks with friends.
- Exercise
According to national and international guidelines recommendation, it is suggested that the average adult get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per well. If you want to maintain a healthy weight then you need to exercise regularly. You need to increase your physical activity.
- Avoid daily stress
Stress can directly impact your health. Stress can also show a worse effect on your body and mind. The consumption of too many high calories in food can also contribute to the development of obesity. Chronic stress can raise the level of the stress hormone cortisol and can lead to obesity. It is because of a poor diet. Make sure to opt for a healthy diet. Do meditation, yoga, and exercise to stay healthy physically and mentally.
- Quality Sleep
The primary objective of sleep is associated with overall well-being. Studies have shown that good-quality sleep can reduce weight and contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
The primary goal of the treatment is to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. According to the sources it was found that even a modest level of weight loss of 5-10 percent of initial weight along with long-term maintenance can bring significant health benefits. It can lower your blood pressure, can keep Diabetes in check by lowering the risk of Diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
© Ruchie Verma.
Disclaimer: This article is an advisory piece. Before you manipulate your diet habit and health-related changes kindly consult a medical practitioner or nutritionist. The details mentioned in the post are true to the author’s knowledge and for information purposes ONLY. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ruchie Verma (WigglingPen) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
I will be looking forward to reading your next post.
The main psychology behind fat shaming is that being obese or overweight is generally considered a sign of disease or laziness and to some extent it is true, if we look at the scientific reasons behind it. Being overweight is a kind of pre-obesity stage, mostly a person with BMI above 30 is considered obese , but the scale is different for males and females because women naturally have more fat than males.
You are right, obesity is not just about being over weight. People think opposite of thin is obese but no. That’s not correct. Lack of exercise, stress, poor eating habits, everything contributes towards developing obesity. It will not show all of a sudden. With the kind of lifestyle we have today, it is our responsibility to keep a check on our weight. I am more worried about kids. They are naturally inclined towards not so very great options(parents see it this way).
One should always vouch for a healthy body free from all sorts of ailments. I completely agree that sedentary lifestyle is the key concern for gaining weight, but I also believe that there are much more stress levels in our day-to-day hectic lifestyle that is causing major health issues.
yes obesity is a major health problem worldwide and it increases the risk of developing other diseases too. I believe following a healthy lifestyle that includes eat well and regular exercise can help a lot. it is great that now we have many resources as online option to get educated yourself and be physically active to avoid these health issues.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article on overweight and obesity. Your explanation of the impact of obesity on overall health was informative and engaging. The inclusion of prevention strategies, such as balanced diet, exercise, stress management, and quality sleep, provided practical steps for readers to take control of their health!
You mentioned the good points for avoiding obesity and also the reasons behind the same. But Here I will like to add one more point … there are some medications which actually infuse extra weights in our body and we cant avoid it as that are the effects of the medications required for some health issues. Shedding such weight will be pretty difficult in that case and may need years time.
True, we need to have the balance between the calories we consume and the energy we burn. If we eat more calories than our body needs and don’t engage in enough physical activity to burn them off, we can start gaining weight. On the other hand, if we consume fewer calories and maintain an active lifestyle, we can work towards losing weight. It’s often a combination of overeating and a lack of exercise that plays a significant role in causing obesity. Thanks for an insightful post, Ruchi.
Absolutely agree with you that sedentary lifestyle is the key concern for gaining weight . We need to keep a check on our weight and stress level