- 6 out of 10 people in the U.S. are overweight
- 60 diseases are directly related to obesity
- Obesity contributes to over 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
- Obese people are discriminated against more frequently in employment.
- Obese people are more limited in their options for social activities, which contributes to lower self-esteem, depression, and other psychological abnormalities.
What Causes Obesity
Factors that contribute to obesity include genetic history, psychological disposition, treatment for other conditions that can sometimes cause weight gain, and several others. While many factors contribute to the increasingly adverse effect that obesity is having on society, there are two that we believe play the most significant role in bringing about the epidemic we face. We live in a world of fast food restaurants that are bombarding us with ads and marketing campaigns, encouraging us to "Supersize" everything we order. These restaurants use chemical flavorings that help you consume more and more of their products, even when your body signals that it is satisfied. When you add that these more significant quantities of food being consumed contain large amounts of toxins and chemical preservatives and lack the nutritional value that the body needs to function correctly, it's easy to understand how obesity is getting out of control.That's not the only contributing factor, though. We also have to consider the role that decreased activity plays today. Computers, technology, and the Internet have all caused us to be more sedentary in our daily routines. Things we used to go out to do, like entertainment, shopping, and even communicating with others, are all capable of being done over the Internet, and that has decreased the amount of physical activity we naturally get without thinking about it. Couple that with poor diets and stress from ever-pressurised work environments, and you have a perfect setting for obesity to flourish.
Psychological factors may also influence eating habits. Many eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. Some illnesses can lead to obesity or a tendency to gain weight. These include hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, depression, and some neurological issues that can lead to overeating. Also, drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may cause weight gain. A doctor can tell whether there are
underlying medical conditions that are causing weight gain or making weight loss difficult.
What are the effects of obesity?
Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a health hazard. Approximately 300,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity.Several severe medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also related to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Obese women are more likely than non-obese women to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix, or ovaries.
Other diseases and health problems linked to obesity include:
- Diabetes, gallbladder disease, and gallstones
- Liver disease
- Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the joints deteriorate. This is likely the result of excess weight on the joints.
- Gout, another disease affecting the joints
- Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea, in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep
- Reproductive issues in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility
- Healthcare providers generally agree that the more obese a person is, the more likely he or she is to develop health problems.
Psychological and social effects
Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive.Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous, lazy, or both, even though this is not true. As a result, obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common.
The Solution
Obesity is a severe problem to lick, primarily because of human nature. Most people have difficulty because human nature causes us to take the path of least resistance, which is to do nothing about it and allow our conditions to worsen. People tend to take action only when the pain associated with the thing is higher than the effort needed to correct it. But waiting until diabetes or some other disease consumes your health is not the time to address obesity. We need to take action to change the habits that lead to obesity, and that starts with recognizing the causes and being willing to modify the way we do things.The first step to reversing the effects of obesity is to evaluate your eating habits and be prepared to make dietary lifestyle changes instead of "going on a diet." The results you get from most diets are short-lived, but making positive lifestyle changes that become lifestyle habits is the key to success in battling obesity. Start by evaluating what you eat. Are you eating a lot of fast food? Do you consume at least 64 ounces of water per day? Are you
eating larger meals? Do you properly supplement your meals with nutritional supplements that make sense? This is the most critical area to focus on because your body needs a proper healthy base to provide the energy and growth necessary to implement other plan components.
Unfortunately, even the healthy foods we eat don't contain sufficient quantities of the nutrients our bodies need to function correctly. One excellent way to get your dietary lifestyle changes off to a good start is to utilize a cleansing or detoxification system to help rid your body of toxins and put your metabolism into proper condition to begin burning more fat. Many systems out here will help you do that, but stay away from fasting
systems since these are notorious for having the weight return the minute you stop. Instead, seek a system that provides proper nutritional supplementation for your meals.
If you are sedentary, you must find opportunities to inject physical activity into your daily routine. That doesn't always mean joining a health club. Walking after meals or between activities can be very effective in helping you to burn off calories. If you take public transportation to work, try walking part of the way. Or, use part of your lunch hour to go for a walk. Walking can be an excellent activity to do with someone else, mainly since it allows you to socialize and exercise simultaneously. Naturally, formal exercise programs are great, too, but pay attention to the substantial effect that just adding a regular walking routine can have.
Strength training is one of the most effective ways to increase physical activity for two reasons, and here's why. Strength training helps you burn calories through the physical exertion necessary to the activity, and because added lean muscle mass burns more calories, even when you are at rest.
So, people with more muscle burn off more energy even when sleeping. We recommend looking at Static Contraction Training because of its effectiveness and the minimal time it takes to complete the routine. Getting stronger quickly will allow you to concentrate more on your dietary lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
Any action you take is better than no action, so don't allow apathy to be your undoing. If you have to start gradually, get started. IfIf you are grossly overweight, be sure to check with your physician before beginning any lifestyle changes, workout routine, or dietary modification.
