Let’s Explore Obesity

It’s not a nice topic to discuss, but it’s something we have to. Besides, this is a health and fitness blog, so it is our duty to. The article today has been published in different websites. As per our tradition, we traced back the owner and got their permission to republish it here. May it put things into context for you:

“If you thought being obese is being the target of fun, it only tells the part of the story about dangers and predicaments obesity exposes you to. Obesity is no more a simple result of overeating-lead-to-overweight case.

To quote the American Obesity Association’s words, “It is now recognized that obesity is a serious, chronic disease. No human condition — not race, religion, gender, ethnicity or disease state — compares to obesity in prevalence and prejudice, mortality and morbidity, sickness and stigma.”

Obesity is a Trojan horse. It brings a battalion of ailments, which are most detrimental to our health. To name a few, following are the complications that could arise out being obese.

• Hypertension
• Diabetes (Type-2)
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Asthma
• Sleep apnoea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
• High levels of cholesterol

This is an unending list, where each of the above ailments are capable of creating other complications, where no medication without side effect, could be comfortably used. Prevention is the best cure for obesity. How to achieve this?

A doctor once told my friend, who is obese that it is very easy to lose weight. My friend became very interested and asked him to suggest a way. The doctor calmly replied that just shake your head from left to right, maybe ten times a day! My friend became very curious. What is the idea behind this? He asked.

Doctor calmly replied, “Whenever anyone offers you something to eat, shake your head from left to right”. Simple, isn’t it? It is simple, but it requires discipline, which is not simple. But then, habit makes discipline. Avoiding junk food and fast food must be done with a discipline.

Obesity is not just due to eating disorder unlike overweight. Obesity is hereditary and it is measured by Body Mass Index or BMI. Adults over the BMI of 30 Kg/m2 is considered are considered obese and any one with reading between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 is overweight, not obese.

Obesity is posing the biggest threat to Americans and the numbers are rising with each year. There are around 35% obese Americans according to a survey. This is also draining the state exchequer heavily to the tune of $25 billion a year.

There are more reasons than one. Having obsession to eating more calories than you can burn off, how active are you, what you eat and whether you have an inherited streak in your genes, all these determine your chances of becoming obese. In any case it is due to the over accumulation of fats.

There are many quick-fix plans being promoted by the so called dieticians which are not regulated by FDA. However, burning fat by increased physical activity and a changed lifestyle in addition to changed eating habits to healthier foods must gradually show results.

Although fat at hips is not quicker to harm you than the accumulation around waist, there is no guarantee that you are absolutely safe. Talk to your trainer and dietician, pull-up your socks and get going. After all, it’s your life.”

Good article, although we would like to clarify that the use of BMI is slightly controversial these days. Nevertheless, a lot of the content in the article still holds true. That being said, it will take time to lose weight for those who are obese. Check out the links below, which will be useful for those who are seeking to drop some kilos: