Many people across the globe are affected by obesity. It has been affecting children, adults, and older people. It is when you have too much body fat. It is a chronic and complex disease that slowly harms the body and makes daily life difficult. It is not only about appearance but also a serious health condition.
Global obesity prevalence is predicted to reach 18% in men and surpass 21% in women, with many countries experiencing much higher levels.source:worldobesity.org.
Obesity does not develop in one day. It takes a lot of time. It is connected with:
- Lifestyle.
- Habits.
- Mental well being.
- Environment.
It is easy to avoid the complications of obesity just by knowing the causes and effects of it.
Let’s start!
What is obesity?
Obesity means having too much body fat that affects health. Doctors measure obesity by comparing height and weight. It is defined by a body mass index of 30 or higher in adults.
Moreover, it makes daily life harder. An obese person faces problems in movement. Also, the heart, lungs, and other body organs face pressure. As a result, this can cause serious medical problems.
How to know that you are obese?
1. Body mass index:
It compares average body weight with average body height. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obesity.
Example.
A woman’s height: 5 feet
Weight: 90 kgs.
The formula to calculate the bmi is kg/m2. Her BMI is 38.8 and it is much more than 30. It shows that the woman is obese.
2. Waist circumference:
A waist size of 37 inches for men or 31.5 inches for women indicates a higher risk of obesity-related conditions.
The main causes of obesity:
● Unhealthy eating:
It is the main reason for obesity involving taking more calories than you need in a day. Also, it involves eating:
- Fast food
- Sugar
- Fried items
These types of food have bad calories. Regularly eating such food makes your body store extra energy as fat. Eating large portions also causes obesity.
● No physical activity:
Modern life has made people less active. Now people have the habit of sitting for many hours in school and at work.
Other than this, free time is spent watching screens. Weight gain also happens when the body is unable to burn energy. Now, children are facing such issues because outdoor games are replaced by mobile phones.
● Genetic factors:
Obesity can be genetic too. Some people feel hungrier more often because of their genetic makeup.
However, genes alone cannot make you obese. Many other factors, combined with genetic factors, lead to obesity.
● Emotional well being:
Stress is also a reason for obesity. This is because our body manages stress by releasing cortisol. This hormone manages hunger. Stress makes you eat a large amount of food.
● Medical reasons:
Hormonal problems and slow metabolism can cause obesity. Certain medications also increase appetite.
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The main effects of obesity:
● High risk of diseases:
- heart diseases.
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Joint pain
- Fatty liver disease
- Gall stones
- Kidney diseases
- Asthma.
- Back pain.
- Depression and mood disorders.
- Female infertility.
● Emotional effects:
Obesity leads to low confidence. Criticism of appearance from others results in depression. This creates a cycle of binge eating.
● Daily life problems:
Obesity makes daily life challenging. This is because walking, climbing, and even doing basic tasks can be exhausting. This is due to low energy levels. It also leads to a reduction in life expectancy.
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How to treat obesity?
Losing weight is not easy. It requires the right approach.
● Eat good:
Eat nutritious food. You must eat:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
Stop eating:
- Sugar
- Fast foods
- Fried items. Also, drink enough water.
● More physical activity:
Exercise can help you lose weight. You must do simple activities like:
- Walking
- Stretching
- Light yoga or aerobics.
● Change your lifestyle:
You should sleep enough. This is also good for energy levels. Also perform relaxation exercises.
● Medical support:
Many people can also turn to medical support, so doctors can provide personalised treatment plans for diet and exercise.
Final thoughts
Don’t lose hope if you are obese. Just know the major reasons for it and how you can treat it. Then you can live a healthy life.