Know the causes, complications, prevention and treatment.
We all know what the definition of Obesity is:
“A disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.”
Rather than a cosmetic problem, obesity is a medical problem and a major example of a lifestyle disease. When analyzing the obesity statistics on the internet we can observe that:
-1 in 3 adults were diagnosed with obesity.
-About 1 in 13 adults were diagnosed with extreme obesity.
-About 1 in 6 children and adolescents of ages 2 to 19 were diagnosed with obesity.
-More recently, between 2005- 2014, the overall prevalence of obesity and extreme obesity increased significantly among women, however, there were no significant increases for men.
Causes:
Obesity can be due to multiple reasons. They can be genetic, physiological factors, environmental factors, high calorie and fat-filled diet, lack of physical activity, and some medications. The usual and most obvious reason for obesity is when a person consumes significantly more calories than they burn off. Growing older can also lead to less muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight. Lack of sleep also leads to hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and crave certain high-calorie foods. Weight gained during pregnancy may be difficult to lose and might eventually lead to obesity. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balance between calories-in and calories-out. This ratio can be different for everyone.
Obesity is, however, different from being overweight or fat. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water, which is not always the case for obesity. BMI (Body Mass Index) is the most used tool to estimate and screen for obesity in adults and children.
Complications:
Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. If you have obesity, losing even 5 to 10% of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.
Some other adverse conditions caused by obesity are:
-Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes an imbalance of female reproductive hormones
-Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare condition present at birth that causes excessive hunger
-Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by having high cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in your system
-Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones
-Osteoarthritis (OA) and other conditions that cause pain that may lead to reduced activity
Preventions/Treatment:
-Being in a good environment and spending some quality time can definitely make your mind peaceful
-Reducing stress by engaging in physical activities can be a mood-lifter and a calorie burning routine
-Intaking correct proportions of food and engaging in proper exercise is the best remedy
-Rather than getting traumatized about how your body is, make changes to your daily routine and watch the difference happening to you!
Authors note:
Being the author of this blog, I can truly validate what I am saying. Because lockdown has made me a person who only eats 24/7. Eat – sleep – online class – repeat has become my daily routine these days. I don’t even spend some time to step out of my house, to get some fresh air and quality time with family and friends. Instead, I am trapped inside my room, spending most of the time on the phone, eating food, and sleeping mainly because of COVID-19 and lockdown and I truly regret that. Starting a healthy diet plan is very essential for me and my generation who are addicted to high-fat content food. We have to care more about our health. As we grow older, the need to have a healthy body becomes more apparent. All of us will enjoy our life much better if we have good health and great physical shape.
A healthy mind is also important in maintaining good health. Taking steps to prevent obesity in your daily life is a good first step. Even small changes, such as eating more vegetables and having physical fitness sessions few times a week, can help to prevent obesity, leading to a healthier and happier lifestyle!
Article by Jyothika Nithin, A part of a student project/internship.
Look for changes that you welcome, incorporate small changes to diet and lifestyle to live a healthier life; naturally!
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Understanding and applying Nutrition Series. Edited by Candok Editorial Board, Candok Lifestyle. Live Life, Naturally!TAGS: HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, OBESITY, PLANT BASED, WEIGHTMANAGEMENT