Obesity, a worldwide phenomenon, today it has surged to become one of the most deadly enemies of mankind, afflicting mostly the rich and the affluent. Obese in simple terms means excess body weight, usually in the absence of an underlying disease, except in small number of cases where the condition originates from hormonal disturbances. Obesity is a very serious concern and the health hazards of obesity are keenly felt all over the world. While the most obvious effect that it has on a person is related primarily to his or her aesthetic features, the role it plays in the progression of a number of other conditions is substantial. Conditions such as heart failures, respiratory tract illnesses and blood pressure problems are all significantly worsened by obesity and can have life threatening consequences. Before getting into the details of how one can control the condition, it is important to understand the different factors that play a role in the development of the condition. For instance, while some people can always point the finger of blame at factors that are out of their control such as hereditary and genetics, most cases will see the problem as being the result of a combination of two factors – an unhealthy diet as well as a lack of proper and adequate exercise.
The terms overweight and obese are used synonymously by the commoner; however, there is some difference at the clinical level. A person can be considered overweight if his body weight is 10-19 per cent more than the normal or ideal body weight. However, when the body weight of a person is 20 per cent or more than his ideal body weight, he is considered obese. As we have seen previously, the ideal body weight for a person depends on his height, sex, age and body frame. Thus, obesity is a condition of excess body weight and is usually the result of excess accumulation of fat in the body. When energy intake is persistently greater than energy expenditure, the result is gradual accumulation of fat deposits in the adipose tissue depots. Obesity does not happen in week or two. It is a gradual process taking place at a snails pace, when the individual constantly maintains a positive energy balance. A positive energy balance is usually the result of excessive energy intake.
High calorie and high fat foods pamper our taste buds to an extent that most individuals find it difficult to refrain from them in spite of being aware of their nutrient composition. The ignorant certainly cannot be blamed. The other major culprit is modern urban life mechanisation and dependence on different tools has made life easy and increasingly sedentary. This has lead to the lowering of activity levels, of daily energy expenditure and thus of our total daily caloric needs. Increased calorie intake due to consumption of processed foods and decreased activity levels have together taken a toll, increasing the prevalence of obesity. Sometimes, of course obesity may also be the result of an interplay of hormones. An unhealthy diet is a common cause for obesity because of the fact that most of us live very hurried and busy lives. This makes us rely heavily on the convenience of fast foods like burgers and hot dogs. While these foods are easily achievable as also very good to the taste buds, they completely lack any of the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that our body would require for proper functioning. Most of these fast foods are all packed with a number of empty calories that serve no other purpose than being simply converted into fat cells and stored in the fat tissues of the body. These ‘empty calories’ are very different from the normal calories that are an essential requirement for the body. The calories thus got by the body only go on to settle in the body and increase body fat. This would therefore make the person lazy as also overweight. The key to dealing with obesity lies in ensuring that you consume the precise number of calories that your body requires to function properly. This should also be aided with the right amount of exercise to burn off any of the excess fat cells already present in the body. Consulting a dietician or nutrition expert will help you calculate the correct number of calories required by your body and also help you develop a diet plan that best suits your daily schedule.
Obesity jeopardizes an individuals health in more ways than one. It imperils both body and mind of an obese individual. An obese individuals distorted body shape and appearance can be a source both of humiliation and discomfort. Many obese people complain of pain in the joints and may develop arthritis (osteoarthritis) because they have overburdened their knees and joints with their excess body weight. This is the most obvious health hazard that obesity invokes.
Obesity has been associated with a wide range of health problems. It contributes to increasing levels of lipids (fat) and cholesterol in the blood (hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia respectively), leading to narrowing of blood vessels due to deposition of fatty materials in coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). This in turn causes the blood pressure levels to soar (hypertension) and increases the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and strokes.
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes because it increases insulin resistance leading to glucose intolerance. Weight reduction helps many diabetic patients in controlling their diabetes. Obesity can also lead to pregnancy related and surgical complications.
Obese individuals are also more likely to develop cancer. Certain cancers such as cancers of the gall bladder, endometrium, ovary, breasts and cervix in women, and cancers of the colon and prostate in men have been associated with excess body weight. More on Gall Bladder Symptoms here.
Extreme obesity can also cause respiratory insufficiency (hypoventilation) and may even result in sudden death during sleep. Thus, because of its association with several diseases, obesity decreases life expectancy.
Dealing with obesity primarily means that you make a number of changes to the way you live your life. It is imperative that you make a habit of drinking a lot of water over the course of the day as it helps tremendously in the proper functioning of the body. Increase your intake of fruits such as papaya, pineapple and apples as they contain a lot of beneficial vitamins and minerals that are required by the body for a number of its internal processes. Cabbage is known to be one of the most naturally beneficial vegetables when it comes to losing weight and obesity. Just as important as it is to know what foods are beneficial when it comes to weight loss, it is equally important to have a clear understanding of the foods that one should avoid. For instance, it is very important to avoid foods that are rich in carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes as well as avoiding sweets and candy. Foods that are beneficial include wheat, barley, maize and sorghum that should be included in your diet in heavy quantities. Consuming salads that contain a lot of tomatoes and mint leaves are extremely effective when it comes to burning excessive fat cells in the body. Also make it a point to avoiding eating anything that contains high caloric chocolates as well as refined flour.Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.