Obesity has been listed by the WHO as a disease, therefore it should not be overlooked. It is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent or combat it (depending on the case).
In antiquity, obesity was a status symbol. Therefore, it is not strange to find voluptuous bodies with pronounced curved lines in works of art from that period. However, the disproportion in weight (with respect to the size of each individual) poses a great risk to health.
Today, obesity is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a chronic disease. In addition, it involves other conditions that, when added, considerably complicate and compromise people’s quality of life.
Obesity: Preliminary Aspects
Those with obesity are those men who have more than 25% body fat, and women who have a body fat index greater than 30%.
The urban way of life, junk food, sedentary life and a diet poor in nutrients are some of the causes that make obesity almost like a global plague. It is estimated that in 2008, approximately 1.4 billion adults were overweight, and in 2010, 40 million five-year-old children suffered from this disease.
Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. 30% of obesity cases are due to genetic factors that influence metabolism, generating an accumulation of excess fat. 70% of obesity cases are related to unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as maintaining a high-calorie diet and exercising little.
Diseases associated with obesity
Firstly, the life expectancy of those who suffer from it decreases on average three years. In addition, these symptoms can occur:
- Sexual dysfunctions
- Heart failure, arrhythmias, pulmonary embolisms
- Kidney failure, urinary incontinence
- Colon, ovarian, uterine cancer
- Menstrual disorders, infertility
- Apnea, asthma, shortness of breath
- Cerebrovascular accident
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Depression
You know, being obese is a pathological condition, to which you have to pay close attention. Luckily, it is a disease that can be treated with good results. However, the treatment is usually long, hard and with cycles of remissions and relapses. Therefore, it is essential to have the help of a professional.
Obesity prevention
If you are obese, do not hesitate to consult a nutritionist doctor. He will recommend a diet especially suitable for reversing obesity, which is very low in calories and rich in nutrients. A consultation with a specialist will help you dispel doubts, it is always an excellent idea and it is the first step to stop being obese.
- Go for a walk, run, train in a gym, etc. Start biking instead of driving. Give up a sedentary lifestyle and practice the sport you like best. Above all, aerobic exercises are ideal for weight loss. In this way, they stimulate our heart rate and make us eliminate calories.
- Today, there are different surgeries to treat obesity. He will explain all the considerations to you if you decide to undergo one.
- Let go of bad habits like smoking or alcohol.
- Never take pills that were not prescribed by a doctor.
- Get a Thyroid Checkup: In many cases, obesity has to do with a dysfunction of this gland.
- There are many therapeutic support groups for those with this disease. Being accompanied by friends, family and others in the same situation as you is essential to lose weight.
Conclusions
Obesity is considered a disease, therefore it should not be taken lightly. Beyond the physical aspect, it has important health consequences, as well as a notable reduction in life expectancy.
Fortunately, today there are medical, psychological and nutritional treatments that could be used to support this disease. If this is your case, we recommend you go to competent health professional.