Being obese means that you are far beyond your recommended weight, with a high body mass index. It is recommended that you have around 10% body fat in total to be healthy and fit, the majority of which should be spread throughout your body and not just contained in one area like your stomach. Unfortunately, many people who are obese are faced with having fat make up nearly half of their body weight. This fat is often localized in the stomach.
Obesity is one of the leading health problems in the western world, causing around 2.8 million deaths each year globally, most of them from the US, with around 40% of its citizens being obese. Obesity can and probably will trigger many other obesity-related health problems, as well as psychological problems such as depression. Obesity will also cause many social problems that come with being less participant in society.
In this article, we will list just some of the many health hazards which obese people are facing and provide some tips for dealing with it. But first, let’s start with some facts.
Obesity facts
- In 2019, close to 40 million children below the age of 5 were overweight or obese.
- Obesity is fueled by the environment and community, living in an environment that encourages a healthy lifestyle will greatly reduce the chance of becoming overweight.
- Children with obese parents are 10 to 12 times more likely to become obese themselves.
- Researchers discovered more than 40 human genes that are affecting obesity.
- According to studies, obesity greatly increases the chance of a person becoming suicidal.
- Having children raises the chances of the parents becoming obese, that is mainly because in the western world having dependant children reduces the physical activity of the parents.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that soon obesity will become the top cause for poor health.
Health problems
Being obese brings with it many health hazards.
- Being obese means you are placing extra and unnecessary stress upon your joints and ligaments. Each additional pound you gain, whether it is fat or muscle, places additional weight on your joints, especially your legs, knees, and lower back.
- This not only causes your body to wear down at a faster rate, but it often leads to a complete breakdown of the ligaments and joints and the need for joint replacement surgery.
- Being obese also means that your heart has to work much harder, which means your regular heart rate and blood pressure rates are higher than they should be.
- Your heart has a finite amount of beats, but if you are obese and you have to work twice as hard as a healthy person just to move up and down stairs or just to move about your home, you are placing a greater strain on your heart which increases your chances of heart diseases and heart attacks.
- Being obese causes fluctuations in mood and hormone production. This interferes with how you feel, your energy levels, and your sleeping patterns. This can cause problems with regulating your hunger, and your energy levels. If you do not sleep well, it leads to the feeling of hunger throughout the day. This can cause your body to feel hungry all the time, even after you eat, which only leads to more eating.
As you can see, obesity is one of the leading health hazards humanity has to deal with. The struggle is only getting tougher as the world population inflates and the way people lead their life is becoming more and more passive. The change starts from the individual, so if you are dealing with obesity know that you can make a decision and change the course of your life. Keep reading as we provide some tips to help you get started.
How to stay healthy
So what can you do to avoid these health hazards related to obesity? You can start by eating clean. Cook your meals. Even if you are busy, you can cook meals on Sunday and prepare them for the week. You can set aside a few hours to prepare casserole dishes or stews, or sandwiches which all contain healthy alternatives to processed food or prepackaged items that you would normally consider eating. Doing this will also help to cut out fast food.
Avoid soda and juices. Soda is so incredibly unhealthy and yet people drink soda and fruit juices, thinking that they are a good way to get the liquid intake that your body needs. Your body needs to consume roughly 2 liters of liquid each day, and yet many people will finish their meals off with sodas or fruit juices. Those who are trying to lose weight might go with brand name fruit juices like Odwalla because it is juice, but what many people fail to realize is that the Odwalla juices contain just as much sugar (more than your entire daily recommended amount) as a Coke.
If you are dealing with obesity, you know how hard it is to actually implement these healthy tips. One thing you should try is breaking the journey into small milestones, you can start by writing down your budget as fighting obesity might come with a high financial price. The next step can be figuring out how to earn the extra money you will need for the journey, for example, you can try your luck with online casino games on sites like Playigo, just don’t forget to set yourself a betting limit. If you find a small enough goal that won’t feel like a great challenge, it can easily start you on your path to beating obesity.
It’s important to note that we are not certified doctors and therefore you should only take this article as what it is, small tips for dealing with one of the major health hazards in the world. You should always consult doctors and psychologists to get the best medical attention you deserve. Take care of yourself, you deserve to enjoy life instead of constantly dealing with health problems.