Dorothy FarrarOverweight
Obesity is defined as body weight that is too high in relation to height. When it comes to overweight, medicine speaks of so-called pre- obesity as a precursor to obesity. In addition to other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise, obesity is one of the main causes of lifestyle diseases.
What is obesity?
Obesity is defined by a high body weight in relation to height. It brings with it various symptoms and rarely runs without consequences for those affected.
Being overweight, also known as obesity , manifests itself in a wide variety of symptoms. The physical resilience is comparatively low and there is increased sweating . In addition, the joints are overburdened, which can lead to pain and diseases such as osteoarthritis . Other symptoms include circulatory problems and sometimes digestive problems.
causes
In simple terms, the causes of obesity can be described as insufficient energy consumption combined with the simultaneous intake of excessive amounts of energy.
The genetic factors often cited – especially by those affected – play a role, but this is rather secondary. The main causes of obesity lie in overeating, lack of exercise, and disordered eating habits that lead to addiction.
In addition, many people tend to reward themselves with sweets for a job well done or to comfort themselves with them when they are in a negative mood. Negative role models also play a role here.
Children learn behavior by imitating the adults around them. If there is already a lifestyle in the parental home that is accompanied by overeating and lack of exercise, resulting in obesity, it is very likely that the child will also become overweight.Particular attention should be paid in connection with obesity to the oversupply of food that is always available in our latitudes, which at the same time has a high industrially manufactured share. It is known that a high fructose content in food, as is often the case with finished or semi-finished products, promotes the storage of fats in the body.
Other causes of obesity can be metabolic diseases, but also side effects of therapeutic measures against diseases. This applies in particular to drugs such as psychotropic drugs and cortisone .
symptoms and course
The symptoms of being overweight are both physical and psychological. Those affected get problems with the ligaments and joints, tend to have circulatory disorders and are more susceptible to diseases overall. Psychologically, being overweight is often accompanied by severe discomfort . Due to the limited freedom of movement and the reduced performance, inferiority complexes can occur. Affected people are often also marginalized, which means that the quality of life in overweight people falls sharply.
Being overweight can take very different courses. If appropriate countermeasures such as diets or therapies are initiated at an early stage, it can be harmless and without permanent damage. However, if not counteracted, a wide variety of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure occur . Total cholesterol also increases. In general, the mortality rate in overweight people is significantly higher than in people of normal weight. It is not uncommon for those affected to be overweight due to the high risk of heart attack and stroke .
treatment and therapy
The first step in fighting obesity is always to check your own lifestyle. The most effective measures against obesity are exercise and a permanent change in diet . A change in diet in the direction of high-fiber, low-fat and low-sugar food makes sense, but care should be taken, especially with diets , that these may not be too one-sided, otherwise they themselves pose a health risk.
A diet that is too radical also carries the risk that temporarily going without high-calorie foods can quickly lead to weight loss, but the pointer on the scales will quickly climb again after the diet has ended if the old eating habits are resumed. In addition to the much-cited yo-yo effect , which alternates between weight gain and dieting, it can also often be observed that a while after the end of the diet, the weight is not only as high as before, but often even higher.
All in all, it is advisable to tackle severe obesity with medical support if special diets such as a raw food diet are to be followed.
Measures in the case of very severe obesity can also include the use of appetite suppressants and medications intended to reduce the body’s absorption of fat, as well as surgical interventions such as reducing the size of the stomach or inserting a gastric ring, which reduces the volume of the stomach.
prevention
In order to prevent obesity in the long term, one should therefore ensure that the diet is tailored to the body’s energy consumption. For example, a person who works physically needs different amounts of calories than a person who does a sedentary job.
At breakfast, make sure you eat whole grain bread and rolls. They are high in fiber and fill you up many times longer than white flour products such as toast or simple bread rolls. It is best to eat fresh fruit and fresh vegetables frequently because they are low in calories and contain vitamins.Furthermore, it should be ensured that the body is supplied with sufficient liquid throughout the day, since the body cannot optimally carry out metabolic processes if it is not supplied properly.
Water, fruit juices diluted with water and herbal or fruit teas are suitable for this. Sufficient daily exercise should also be ensured. If these principles are observed, obesity has no chance of developing.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.