Dealing With Obesity

Obesity has in the recent year prove to be very serious epidemic and major cause of heart disease ,Cancer , stroke, diabetes and a shortened life expectancy.

Obesity is an abnormally high proportion of body fat.

Major Causes

A person becomes obese when calorie intake is consistently greater than the number of calories burned through activity and basic metabolic processes.

Several factors can influence obesity, including:

though there are so many factors that leads to one being obese but I will only discuss 3 read on :


Overconsumption - A Possible Root Cause

Eating too many calories for our enery needs must be a major candidate for the main cause of the modern obesity epidemic. According to Dr. Marion Nestle, Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University, US agribusiness now produces 3,800 calories of food a day for every American, 500 calories more than 30 years ago — but at much lower per-calorie costs. Increases in consumption of calorie-dense foods, as evidenced by the growth of fast-food chains and higher soft drink consumption, also point to a higher energy-intake.


Genetic Factors

Genes play a great part in how our bodies balances calories and energy. study shows that who have obese parents aslo have a great chance of being overweight. Heredity does not put you at a risk of being overweight but it influences the amount of body fat and body fat distribution which means your genes can make you more susceptible to gaining weight.You cannot change your genetic makeup by willpower any more than you can make yourself taller or shorter by wishing. But you can still achieve your weight loss goals even with a family history of obesity.

Lifestyle

If you spend most of your time at a desk or on a sofa, your risk for obesity is higher. Likewise, the risk is higher for people whose fat intake makes up more than 30 percent of their daily calories. Studies show people who get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise most days are less likely to be obese. Your obesity risk is even lower if you combine an active lifestyle with a low-calorie diet.



Preventing Obesity

1. Good Quality Excerise

Staying active is very important as we age. Walking, swimming and other low impact activities can help keep weight down. Weight training helps keep muscle mass at healthy levels. Seniors with limited mobility may find water workouts/exercise helpful, and exercise programs that can be performed while seated in a chair are also available. Personal health issues and needs determine what form the exercise should take, and all exercise programs should be discussed with a health professional.

2. Only eat when you are hungry. Studies have shown that those who are naturally thin only eat when they are hungry. Only eating when your body signals you to eat can be a great way to prevent obesity.

3. Watch your weight. You should weigh yourself once a week to monitor your health. If you notice that you are starting to gain some weight, you should take appropriate measures to lose that weight. Investing in a scale for the home is recommended.