Obesity is something that is becoming a major issue in these modern times. With so many sources of fast food available all around us it’s becoming a challenge to stay healthy and fit. Obesity is simply caused by eating too much and moving too little. If you’re consuming high amounts of energy or calories but do not burn it through exercise, the surplus calories will be stored in the body as fat.
Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity by itself is not a problem. Obesity increases the risk of other diseases and health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.
Symptoms
Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. So, if you’d like you can get this checked to know your current condition. Some obvious symptoms of obesity are
– Breathlessness
– Inability to cope with sudden physical activity
– Feeling exhausted every day
– Back & joint pains
– Snoring
– Increased sweating
– Low confidence & self-esteem
Causes
● There can be many reasons for obesity. They can be because of genetic, behavioral, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight.
● The most important reason of all is when you take in more calories than you burn off through your daily activities. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.
Factors Of Risk
1. Family Inheritance And Influences
● Genetics may play a role in how your body responds in terms of how your body regulates your appetite and converts food into energy.
● Obesity tends to run in families and that’s not only because of the genes that are shared but also because of the similar eating and activity habits of everyone collectively.
2. Diseases & Medications
● Obesity can be caused because of certain diseases as well. Diseases like arthritis can lead to decreased physical activity, thereby leading to weight gain.
● Also, some medications can lead to weight gain if not compensated through diet or exercise. Some of these medications include antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, steroids etc.
3. Age
● As you get older the amount of muscle mass in your body tends to decrease if you don’t train it. Lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism.
● If you don’t consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you’ll likely gain weight.
4. Quality Of Life
● Obesity can diminish your overall quality of life. You may not be able to do the things that you used to do like participate in activities and avoiding public places.
● Other weight related issues that may affect your quality of life may include
– Depression
– Disability
– Embarrassment
– Guilt
– Lower performance levels
5. Lifestyle Choices
● Following an unhealthy diet filled with high calorie beverages, junk food and oversized portions contributes to weight gain.
● People can drink truckloads of calories without feeling full, especially calories from alcohol. Even high calorie beverages such as soft drinks can contribute to weight gain.
● Having a sedentary lifestyle is another major cause of obesity. The number of hours you spend in front of a screen without moving can be a significant cause as well.
There are plenty of other factors that can lead to weight gain. Pregnancy, quitting smoking, lack of sleep, stress etc are some other major reasons.
How Can You Prevent This?
Whether you’re overweight, obese or even at a healthy weight you can take certain steps to prevent unhealthy weight gain. Some of these are:
– Regular exercise
– Follow a good diet
– Know and avoid foods that cause you to binge eat
– Be consistent
– Monitor your weight regularly
Obesity is a serious problem that could lead to worse problems. If you feel like you need to change something, make a decision and take a stand. It’s never too late to start!
