Fight the evil of obesity

Looking in a certain way is not the only part of having a normal weight, its feeling good and staying healthy. Having extra body fat can be harmful to the body in many ways but one must realize that it’s never too late to make changes in eating and exercise habits to control your weight. So if you or someone you know is obese or overweight, get up and make an effort to deal with the problem and adopt a healthier lifestyle before the problem becomes a cause of many other problems.

An obese person has a large amount of extra body fat and in clinical setting obesity is typically evaluated by measuring BMI (body mass index). A person’s height and weight are used to calculate the BMI and according to current definitions A BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 is normal weight, 25.0 - 29.9 is overweight and that of 30.0 - 39.9 is obese. A BMI of 40.0 or higher is severely obese.

The causes of obesity may vary. Obesity can be due to genetic reasons as some people burn calories faster or slower than others do because of their genes which manipulate the metabolization of food and control the expenditure of extra calories and stored fat. Obesity can run in families, but just how much is due to genes is hard to determine

Underlying illness and certain medications can also lead to obesity. People tend to eat more when they are upset, anxious, sad, stressed out, or even bored so emotions can also be one cause of obesity.

But the factor that is a major cause of obesity today is a sedentary lifestyle. People have become less active with the advancement of science. Computers and televisions have replaced outdoor sports to a large extent. Cars dominate our lives, and fewer people walk or ride bikes to get somewhere. Also, in this fast-paced life, people have lesser time to cook healthy meals and grabbing fast-food is the most convenient way of fighting hunger.

Obesity is bad for both body and mind. Not only does it make a person feel tired and uncomfortable, it can wear down joints and put extra stress on other parts of the body. People become obese when the energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Extra calories are stored as fat.

The best treatment for obesity is an energy-limited diet and increased exercise. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important. Exercise doesn't have to be hard core, either. Walking, swimming, and stretching are all good ways to burn calories and help you stay fit.

Eating well doesn't mean dieting over and over again to lose a few pounds, it will cause more problems than you can imagine. Once you start eating your normal diet again you are bound to gain much more weight than you would have, had you not been dieting. Try to make healthy choices everyday by including salads and fruits in your diet and trying to cut down on soft-drinks and junk-food.

Always remember to eat only when you are hungry and not when you are bored or depressed because it’s your body that needs all those calories and not your sentiments. So feed your body and not emotions.