Obesity is an excess of body fat.
Body mass index (BMI) is a popular method to help estimate the amount of body fat. BMI estimates a healthy weight based on your height. Therefore, knowing your BMI is a very important factor in maintaining a healthy body and an optimum fitness level.
To calculate your BMI:
BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of his/her height in meters. For example, if your weight is 60 kilograms and your height is 5 feet 3 inches, your BMI will be calculated as follows: 60 / 2.61 (1.6 * 1.6) (5 feet 3 inches is approximately 1.6 meters) This gives us a BMI reading at 22.9.
Then use the chart below to see what category your BMI falls into.
Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is central to the metabolic syndrome and is strongly related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women. Obese women are particularly susceptible to diabetes, and diabetes, in turn, puts women at dramatically increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity substantially increases the risk of several major cancers in women, especially postmenopausal breast cancer and endometrial cancer.
Health Risks of Obesity:
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Some forms of cancer
• Shorter Life span
What causes Obesity?
Genetic influences: Your genetic makeup plays a significant role in your chances of becoming obese. Some rare genetic diseases make it almost impossible to avoid obesity.
Physiological influences: Some researchers believe that every person has a predetermined weight that the body resists moving away from. Also, people of the same age, sex and body size often have different metabolic rates.
Food intake and eating disorders: If you eat a lot, especially foods that are high in fat and calories, you can become obese. Obesity also can result from eating disorders, such as a tendency to binge.
Lifestyle: If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you are at a higher risk of becoming obese. If you were overweight as a child or adolescent, you are more likely to be obese as an adult. Pregnancy can contribute to obesity. Many women weigh more after each pregnancy. Some drugs can cause obesity. These include steroid hormones and many drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions.
Common symptoms of Obesity:
The primary warning sign of obesity is an above-average body weight.
• Trouble sleeping
• Sleep apnea. This is a condition in which breathing is irregular and periodically stops during sleep.
• Shortness of breath
• Varicose veins
• Skin problems caused by moisture that accumulates in the folds of your skin
• Gallstones
• Osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints, especially the knees
How to diagnose Obesity?
Obesity is diagnosed by calculating your BMI. A BMI of 30 or more defines obesity. In general, this means your body weight is 35% to 40% more than your ideal body weight. Waist circumference is a good measure of abdominal obesity. Women with a waist more than 35 inches or men with a waist more than 40 inches are at increased risk.
How to overcome Obesity?
Obesity is often a lifelong problem. Once excess weight is gained, it is not easy to lose. Once lost, you will have to work at maintaining your healthier weight. The length of time it takes to reach your weight goal depends on diet, exercise, existing medical conditions.
Prevention is better than cure
To prevent obesity and maintain a healthy body weight, eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly. Preventing obesity is important. Once fat cells form, they remain in your body forever. Although you can reduce the size of fat cells, you cannot get rid of them.
Pic Credits: tophealthylifestyle.info
Treating Obesity the natural way:
A modified diet: A reasonable weight loss goal is 0.5 to 1 kg per week. This can usually be achieved by eating 500 to 1,000 fewer calories each day. Whether you concentrate on eating less fat or fewer carbohydrates is up to you. Fats have more than twice as many calories per ounce than carbohydrates or protein. If you cut out carbohydrates, you still need to limit fat intake. Choose healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils.
Regular exercise: To effectively lose weight, most people need to do moderate intensity exercise for 60 minutes most days of the week. Add more activity during the day. Take the stairs and get up often from your desk or sofa.
Severe Obesity: Consult your Doctor/Dietician for more effective treatment.
Love, Team She