Obesity: A Disease of New Era!

Modern lifestyle has undoubtedly made our lives a lot easier than it was a few years back. It has revolutionized the way we shop, communicate and conduct our day-to-day business. However, like every good thing, even luxury comes at a price- obesity. Yes, the rate of obese people has drastically increased over the past decade, leading to new and fatal health risks for patients.

We will explore the reason why obesity has become the disease of the new era and the ways to curb it;

What Is Obesity?

Obesity in scientific terms is the condition when a person’s body mass exceeds normal levels and poses significant health risks. A person with a high BMI is usually diagnosed with obesity. BMI or body mass index is a tool that doctors use to calculate if a person’s weight is in accordance with his height, sex, age, and lifestyle. Anyone with a BMI over 30 is said to be obese or overweight.

Other factors, such as the ratio of waist-to-hip size (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), and fat distribution of fat are important in determining how healthy a person's weight and body shape are.

Reasons For Obesity

Almost anyone is susceptible to obesity. And contrary to popular belief, overeating is but one of the few causes of gaining weight. There are a number of other causes of obesity, it is a multifactorial disease and we have discussed a few of the well-known reasons below;

• Excessive calorie intake: overeating is obviously one of the main reasons for gaining weight. Consuming junk, oily and fatty food, in taking a lot of carbs can cause fat to accumulate in certain sections of the body. Note that fat in itself is not bad for the body provided it is used optimally and is distributed evenly.
• Luxurious lifestyle: we have limited our lives to either our homes or the office cubicles. Physical activities like running, walking is becoming less frequent, leading to a gamut of medical ailments and cramps.
• Genetic: sometimes the cause of obesity might be running in the family. Genetics also affect the body fat composition of a person and make one prone to diabetes and heart problems.
• Hormones: the endocrine system and thyroid can lead to sudden weight gains as well. With proper medication and a few lifestyle changes, one can reverse the effects though.
• Depression: mental issues like depression and anxiety can cause eating disorders and sleeping problems in people leading to sudden weight gains and loss. Also, with age one tends to become less physically active and hence lethargic and obese.

Risks of Obesity

Now that you know what causes obesity, let us look into why is being obese such a problem. Note that obesity does not mean gaining a few extra kilos in the holidays or being slightly overweight. Obesity is when the person’s body weight is so much that it can lead to serious health risks, can disrupt his daily routine and even hinder his body movements.

Listed below are some of the risks obese people are susceptible to;

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart diseases and breathing problems
• Lung infections
• Sleeping disorders like insomnia and sleep apnoea
• Kidney and liver problems
• Arthritis and muscle cramps
• Deteriorating Mental health
• Low self-esteem and anti-social behavior

Tips to Reduce Weight

Simply being diagnosed with obesity and being aware of the risks is not enough. If your doctor has warned you of your increasing body weight it is high time you do something about it before it is too late. Here are a few proactive measures you can opt for;

• Cut down on carbs and eat organic instead
• Exercise regularly at the gym, burn those calories to get leaner
• Practice yoga and meditation for mental peace and stability
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle
• Sleep on time
• Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol, and smoking
• Consult a nutritionist or an instructor for professional advice.

The Bottom Line

Being obese is nothing to be ashamed of, but it doesn’t mean you should be complacent about your increasing weight. Consult a doctor, get a thorough body examination and check for signs of obesity. Actively work towards losing weight and leading a healthy life- it would definitely make a difference.