Is Obesity a Disease or a Choice?
An epidemic is when a plague breaks out and effects the nations around the world. Obesity is an epidemic, that is proving very hard one to eliminate. Why? Because people have stopped treating it like an illness and have accepted the fact that they are fat and there is nothing they should do about it. They are in denial about the fact that this can lead to many severe issues and can also be fatal.
Overview of Obesity:
How do you know someone is obese? How is fat or chubby different than obese? Well, the answer is simple. With the help of BMI calculation, you can measure if a person is overweight or healthy. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is calculated with the help of height and weight of a person.
The range of BMI helps doctors determine if a person is overweight or not,
• 18.5 to 24.9 = healthy weight
• 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• 30 to 39.9 = obese
• 40 or above = severely obese
But it has its own limitations, like with people who have well build muscles can have high BMI without being obese.
What Causes Obesity:
There are many factors that contribute to obesity; few of them are genetic, hormonal but most of them are behavioral. The easiest explanation of obesity is you take in more calories than you burn on a daily basis. These calories accumulate and become multiple layers of fat. Very rarely obesity can be linked to some diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome.
The most common issues are behavioral such as:
Inactivity:
When you are sufficiently active, you burn tons of calories, which keeps you toned and eliminates excess fats. On the other hand, being inactive doesn’t the worst to your body. You don’t burn calories, fat accumulates in your body, and you keep getting fat.
Unhealthy Diet:
Eating junk and not working out can make you obese over time. You can easily gain weight if you keep unhealthy eating habits going without any workout. Fast foods, saturated fat, excess sugar, among other things are sure to make you fat in very little time. Add in soda and sweet drinks and you are doomed.
Bad Sleeping Habits:
Bad sleeping habits can make you obese, most people are unaware of that, but lack of sleep can contribute to obesity as well. moreover, getting too much sleep can mess up hormones as well. both of these factors can make you crave food more than you usually do. Food that is ridden with calories, as well as carbs, can make you gain weight in no time.
Social and Economic Factors:
There are many social and economic factors as well that makes you obese. Such as when you aren’t taught how to cook healthy, or when you don’t have enough funds to get healthy food. Many times the company has a lot of effect on your eating habits as well. When everyone around you eats junk and unhealthy food, you tend to eat just like them; their bad eating habits rub off on you.
Complications of Obesity
Obesity can lead to many complications as well. these complications are the answer to the question, Is obesity a disease? Some of these complications may be fatal as well, which is why obesity is termed as an illness.
These Complications May Include:
• High triglycerides as well as low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (bad cholesterol)
• Diabetes
• High BP
• High blood sugar
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Sleep Apnea
• Gallbladder issues
• Infertility
• PCOs
• Erectile dysfunction
• Osteoarthritis
Medical conditions aside, it can also decrease your quality of life as well, which may include:
• Low confidence
• Clinical Depression
• Sexual problems
• Shame
• Social isolation
If you have been observing your weight gain and you think you are reaching obesity you can start by consulting a specialist. He may give you certain exams and tests, which might be the following.
• Health History: Your history will help the doctor understand your condition better, which may include: weight-loss efforts, exercise routines, eating outlines, other medical conditions, usual medications, your stress levels as well as other problems that you may have faces regarding your health.
• Physical Exam: Taking measurements like height, vital signs, blood pressure, heart rate as well temperature are included in a physical exam.
• BMI Calculation: As this is the easiest way to know if you have reached the dangerous line of obesity the Dr. will probably check this first. Even if you aren’t obese, you should get your BMI checked every year.
• Waist Measurements: Place for the fat to accumulate in the waist area. Most commonly its known as abdominal fat. This is the fat that makes the risk of diabetics as well as cardiac issues higher. Like the BMI measurement, your waist circumference should be checked at least once a year.
• Health Issues: With obesity, there are other problems, your doctor might as him about these as well, like diabetics or previous strokes or high blood pressure and such.
• Other tests: That he might ask you to get would be cholesterol test, fasting glucose test, liver function tests, thyroid test among others. It’s also saved to get an electrocardiogram.
With all this information the doctor will be able to make a better treatment plan to help you cure your obesity.
Obesity Treatments?
Like any cure you need to eliminate the disease, with obesity it’s the weight. You need a treatment that will get you to a normal healthy weight. There are many professionals that can help you with obesity disease such as a dietitian, obesity specialist as well as behavioral counselors.
No matter who you go to, or what plan you choose, they will have two things in common,
1. Change in eating habits
2. Exercise plans.
• There are many other treatments as well, such as:
• Behavioral changes
• Weight-loss medications prescribed by the doctors
• Surgery
Why is a doctor important in all this? Why can’t you just lose weight on your own? With many home treatments, you can lose weight fast. But that can have negative effects on your body, which is the reason why you need a doctor on board. A doctor will take your vitals every time you shed a pound or kilo. He or she will keep an eye on your weight loss. Slow and steady weight loss is the way it should be. It’s the only way you can keep doing it and have a longer effect.
There are many crash diets going on the internet; they claim to lose weight in a just week. These will make your condition worse or even weaken your heart.
Here are a few proven ways to lose weight slow and steady in a healthy way.
Cutting calories:
Cutting back on calories is the surest way of losing the fat that has accumulated around your waistline. You can consult a doctor, and he or she will give you a diet plan that will help you understand how many calories you require daily and what should you avoid reducing your daily calories easily.
Understanding the Food:
Energy density is one way to feel full with a few calories. Some foods have high calories rate, which means eating a spoon full of them can give you a bucket load of calories, whereas, fruits are in the category that has fewer calories. You can eat quite a bit without adding much to your waistline.
Healthier Options:
When you revert to healthier options like consuming plant-based foods items, like fruits, vegetables as well as whole-grain carbs. Also add proteins like beans, lentils, soy. You should also add lean meat and fish to your diet twice a week as well. along with adding healthier options, you should also reduce the use of unhealthy things like salt and sugar in your daily diet.
Restricting Certain Nourishments:
There are many food items that you should not only reduce but eliminate altogether from your diet. Such foods include carbs, items loaded with fats. Your dietitian will be a great help in providing you with a list of food to avoid at any cost if you need to fight your obesity.
Exercise and Workouts:
There are many workout treatments that will be suggested by your dietitian that will be a huge factor in your weight loss. Physical activity is a must when you need to lose weight and fight obesity.
Conclusion:
Obesity is an illness that leads to many other problems; do not let it control your life.