Weight — Implications and losing it
Weight loss is a desire of many people. Others also see their increasing weight as a sign of good living, while others see being overweight and obese (fat) as a culturally acceptable norm that is indicates that one or the entire family is wealthy.
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Many people, however, are suffering because of their weight and need help urgently. Take a peep at what people are suffering from and or risk suffering from because of their weight.
If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including: High triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome — a combination of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.
You may also have a heart disease, stroke, cancer (including cancer of the uterus), cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, oesophagus, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate,
Others are breathing disorders, including sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts; gall bladder disease,
The rest are gynaecological problems, such as infertility and irregular periods, erectile dysfunction and sexual health issues; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver and can cause inflammation or scarring, osteoarthritis, and skin conditions, including poor healing of wounds.
When you're obese, your overall quality of life may be lower, too. You may not be able to do things you'd normally enjoy as easily as you'd like, such as participating in joyful activities.
You may avoid public places. Obese people may even encounter discrimination. Other weight-related issues that may affect your quality of life include: Depression, disability, sexual problems, shame and guilt, social isolation, lower work achievement and back pain.
The way out of these disturbing issues is to think about losing your weight. Once gained, weight loss becomes very difficult but still remains a possibility. Your desire to lose weight should however not send you into wrong hands; or people who only seek to make money out of your situation.
Often, they promise magical results and may tell you that you can lose 10-20kg of weight in a month, for example. Their therapies often create more serious problems for you. You may lose the weight, gain it back quickly and even develop other medical problems as a result of the quick weight loss.
To lose weight the right way, you must reduce energy intake and increase energy usage. This does not, however, call for starvation. You need to be well nourished throughout the day.
Your dietician should help you get only the amount of energy and nutrients that your body needs. This way, you will not take in more than the body needs, leading to the situation where you would have excessive amounts of energy to store as fat and make you gain weight.
In addition to the changes in diet, regular exercise also helps to deal with weight issues.
Exercise actually offers the body an opportunity to use the stored fat (weight) for energy. Continued usage of the stored fat for energy will cause depletion in their levels and result in weight loss.
When you start an exercise, just go on doing it every day. For instance, walking, even in your room can help you lose weight so don’t blame a bad weather for your inability to exercise regularly.
Excess weight simply needs to be dropped. Lose weight the right way and enjoy the benefits that come along with weight loss. Eat well. Stay healthy.
• Mr.Wise Chukwudi Letsa (MSc,RD)
Dietician at Trust Hospital & LETS Consult Diet Clinic
Author - "Diet, Health & Wellness"
Contacts: 0244090262, [email protected], [email protected]
visit www.wiseletsa.com for good info on diet, heath & wellness