Obesity Health

Something about obesity?
( 5 Mar 2009)

The food that is consumed is meant to provide the body with nutrients that help in the proper metabolism and functioning of the body. Eating excess of it however results in the build-up of fat in the body. Overeating on a regular basis leads to continuous weight gain and will subsequently result in obesity.

Obesity is a chronic condition which can have serious consequences for the health of the body. A body mass index of above 30 is referred to as obese. There can be many causes of obesity such as genetic factors. This means that obesity tends to run in families. Stress and depression can also cause a person to eat excessively. A sedentary lifestyle in which physical activity is at a minimum contributes to excessive weight gain. Women are more prone to obesity as they have less muscle as compared to men. Muscles tend to burn off increased calories even in a resting state. Metabolism reduces with increasing age and as such weight gain also increases. Women commonly gain additional weight after pregnancy. There are also certain medical conditions that can result in weight gain such as hypothyroidism, in which metabolism is hampered. Clinical depression, cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome and intake of certain medications such as birth control pills and antidepressants can also result in obesity. Eating disorders such as bulimia are also characterized by excessive weight gain. Obesity can put an individual at risk for many health concerns such as heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and sleep apnea.

To treat obesity, one must reduce the daily calorie intake. This means decreasing calorie consumption by 500 calories per day or burning off 50 calories every day. Proper diet and exercise is required to shed excess weight. Exercise must be engaged in at least five days a week for half an hour each day. This will help to lower the triglyceride levels that increase the risk of heart conditions. Obesity can be controlled by limiting the serving sizes of food portions. One must also avoid fatty and sugary foods. Alcohol consumption must be completely discontinued as well.

Ginger is known to be effective in weight loss and ginger tea can be taken daily to reduce body fat. One may also take a paste of honey and ginger paste every morning. Horse gram is known to be beneficial in treating obesity. Soak a couple of tablespoons of horse gram in water and keep overnight. Drink the solution the next morning for an effective remedy against obesity.

answered by M W on 23 Mar 2010, 4:32:06

What exactly do you want to know about obesity? “Something about obesity” is extremely vague, and can range from what is obesity to its causes and its effects on one’s health, as well as how to fight obesity. Since you have not specified exactly what information you are looking for, we will just briefly touch upon all the points mentioned.

Obesity is different from simply being overweight – the latter simply means that your weight is slightly over the ideal weight. Obesity on the other hand means that you are extremely overweight; overweight means that you have a BMI (body mass index) of more than 25 kg/m2, while obese means that you have a BMI of more than 30 kg/m2. A BMI of around 20 kg/m2 is considered to be normal and healthy.

The main causes of obesity are a faulty diet and a lack of physical exercise. Dietary problems usually involve an excessive intake of fats, and sometimes of carbohydrates too, particularly simple carbohydrates of the sort found in cakes, pastries, and junk food. Physical exercise usually primarily refers to actual exercise, but any strenuous physical activity counts, and an overall sedentary lifestyle can greatly contribute to obesity. In rare cases, obesity can be genetic, or the result of some disease or medical condition.

Obesity has quite a drastic effect on a person’s health and causes a wide range of problems ranging from cosmetic ones such as stretch marks and cellulite to painful conditions that affect the back and joints, as well as life threatening conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Obese people are particularly susceptible to cardiovascular problems and diabetes, but obesity can affect almost every aspect of a person’s health, and of the preventable causes of death is near the top of the list.

The most effective way in which obesity can be fought is of course to address its causes directly. Since the primary causes are a poor diet and lack of physical exercise, these are the things that need to be changed. The most effective and reliable diets, with the minimum risk of side effects, are low fat diets and low calorie diets. In low fat diets, the focus is on reducing fat intake by avoiding fatty foods and choosing low fat substitutes whenever possible. In low calorie diets, the focus is on overall calorie intake. Along with diet control, exercise is absolutely essential. It can usually start out as simply walking briskly for half an hour a day, and then progress to more intense work outs as your body gets more fit.

answered by G R on 5 Mar 2009, 11:38:33

Obesity Health

Something about obesity? ( 5 Mar 2009)

Something about obesity?
( 5 Mar 2009)