Obesity has become one of the health problems with the highest incidence worldwide, claiming the lives of more people than malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies. Recent statistics estimate that around 13% of the world’s population suffers from obesity, leading to the appearance and development of diseases related to poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, or joint and bone problems. That is why at FastlyHealwe want to address the causes and consequences of obesity and some recommendations to lose weight and gain health.
Table of Contents
Main causes of obesity
Obesity is a multifactorial condition in which many aspects come into play to lead to the excessive accumulation of fat in the body and therefore to overweight that, if it progresses, will end up becoming what is medically known as obesity: when the body mass index is equal to or greater than 30.
The leading causes of obesity are:
- A hypercaloric diet in which foods rich in fat, sugar, salt, and additives and poor nutrients and vitamins are consumed excessively.
- Absence of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. Those who lead an inactive life and eat many caloric foods are more likely to suffer from this condition.
- Genetics can also be responsible for obesity by at least 33%, which is why this condition is frequently seen in people with direct relatives who are obese or overweight.
- Certain health conditions can also lead to obesity. This is the case of problems such as hypothyroidism or polycystic ovaries, which slow down the metabolism and significantly promote overweight.
- Other causes of obesity are due to certain emotional factors linked to food, for example, overeating when we are sad or bored, which can lead to weight gain over time. Taking certain medications and hormonal changes can also affect weight gain.
Types of obesity
The types of obesity are classified according to the location of the fat in the body; thus, we find:
- Android or abdominal obesity: what is known as apple body, when fat is concentrated primarily in the abdomen, chest, and face, giving rise to prominent bellies. People with this condition are more prone to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Gynoid or peripheral obesity: corresponds to what is known as the pear body, when the fat is located in the hips and legs. People who suffer from this type of lipid accumulation are more likely to have joint problems and conditions such as varicose veins or knee pain. It is more common in women.
- Homogeneous obesity: when fat is located evenly throughout the body, without accumulating in a particular area.
Consequences of obesity on your health
Obesity is one of the most common triggers for the appearance of various diseases. Some of them are chronic conditions from which the patient will never recover unless he profoundly and definitively changes his habits.
Some of the complications of obesity are:
- Increased possibility of suffering from various heart diseases such as heart disease and stroke. This condition also causes pathologies such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease characterized by the increased presence of sugar in the blood and the inability of our body to process it properly.
- This condition increases the risk of suffering from various cancers such as colon, endometrial, or breast cancers.
- It produces a more significant degeneration in the joints and bones, increasing the risk of suffering various injuries and essential conditions such as osteoarthritis.
- It causes breathing difficulties that can lead to severe problems like sleep apnea.
- A heavier weight than it should be can also cause complications on an emotional level, generating depression and insecurity.
How to reduce obesity
In the same way that a combination of factors causes obesity, losing weight healthily and adequately also requires that we take different actions to achieve it.
That is why it is advisable to make some significant changes in our routine:
Seek professional help
This is especially important for those who do not know the proper way to eat or what foods are the best for their age and lifestyle. A professional can help you eat better, set goals, and eat an adequate diet that fits your health condition.
Improve diet
- Minimize the presence of foods rich in fat, sugar, sweets, pastries, soft drinks, alcohol, fatty meats, and junk food.
- Add to your diet always fresh fruits and vegetables and never frozen or prepared, and choose to eat lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and some cuts of pork and beef. Fish is an excellent ally to losing weight; always opt for it fresh.
- Consume your meals prepared in the oven, steamed, grilled, or cooked, and avoid fried foods and very fatty preparations.
- Eat three main meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks, one in the middle of the morning and one in the afternoon. It is better to eat five meals a day in moderate portions than three huge ones.
- Avoid snacking on unhealthy foods such as snacks, pastries, or sweets.
- Add to your diet foods that help you burn fat and gain health.
Move more
- It is essential to burn more energy than we expend to lose weight. That is why you must move and exercise every day. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day is recommended as an essential for staying active.
- You should also do at least 40 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3 or 4 times a week. Walking at a moderate or high intensity, running, swimming, cycling, dancing, or doing aerobic disciplines is ideal for keeping our heart healthy and losing weight.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Obesity: causes and consequences, we recommend that you enter our Endocrine System category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.