Obesity:
Prevention:
To avoid the scourge of obesity, implement the following steps to maintain aHEALTHYweight:
Exercise regularly:
Most health experts recommend 30 minutes ofEXERCISE every day. Simple but effective activities are swimming, brisk walking and jogging.
Eat healthy foods:
Make sure you eat nutritious and low-calorie foods like whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Avoid foods with saturated fat, and consume alcohol, and sugary foods and drinks in moderation. You can consume your favorite foods once in a while but in moderate amounts.
Keep track of your weight:
Check your weight every week to see if your strategies are working and to detect weight gain. This will help you maintain an ideal weight over the long term.
Stay consistent:
You should stick to your weight-loss regimen during weekdays, weekends, holidays and vacations. This consistent approach will increase your chances of success.
Tests:
The doctor will conduct some of the following tests and exams to accurately diagnose your condition:
Evaluating your health history:
The doctor may ask about yourHEALTH issues like eating patterns,EXERCISEhabits, weight-loss methods, weight history, related complications, etc. He/she may also askabout obesity and other conditions in your family.
Related problems:
The doctor may order tests for related conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
BMI calculation:
The doctor may calculate your body mass index (BMI) to get an accurate idea about your obesity level.
Waist measurement:
Abdominal fat increases the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Ideally, waist measurement should be less than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men. If it is above these figures, it increasesHEALTH risks.
General tests:
The physician may check your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, examine your abdomen and listen to your lungs and heart.
Blood tests:
These include tests for cholesterol, liver function, fasting glucose, thyroid test etc. Sometimes, heart tests like an electrocardiogram may be ordered.
These tests and exams will enable the doctor to determine the health risks and conditions you suffer from and the right treatment options for them.
Preparing for an appointment with the doctor:
Before going for your appointment with the doctor you can prepare for it in the following ways to enable the doctor understand your condition and provide the best solutions:
Make a diary of your eating habits such as your meal times, foods you eat, etc.
Make a list of theHEALTH problems you have that may be due to obesity.
Prepare appropriate questions you can ask the doctor to make the most of your appointment.
Make a list of the medications and supplements you are taking.
Causes:
Body weight increases if a person consumes more calories than they expend. The excess calories are stored as fat in the body. Therefore, overeating and a sedentary lifestyle are the most common reasons for obesity. Other causes are listed below:
Genetics:
Obesity may run in the family. Genetic obesity can be caused by leptin deficiency. Leptin hormone signals to the brain that body fat is too high, thereby curbing appetite. So, leptin deficiency means this appetite control does not take place, leading to obesity.
Overeating:
Overeating can cause obesity, especially if the diet is rich in fatty and sugary foods that mount up the calories.
Slow metabolism:
Lack of muscle slows down the metabolism and the body does not burn that many calories. This is the reason why women tend to put on weight and also find it difficult to lose flab. Older people also lose muscle and therefore tend to put on weight, particularly if they maintain the same daily calorie intake.
Sedentary lifestyle:
Inactive people tend to put on weight and surveys reveal a sedentary lifestyle is strongly linked to obesity in both men and women.
Certain medications:
Medicines that can cause weight gain include certain antidepressants, anticonvulsants (to control seizures) like valproate (Depakene, Depacon), carbamaepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol XR, Tegretol), diabetes medications like thiazoldinediones, sulfonylureas and insulin, oral contraceptives and corticosteroids like prednisone. Some antihistamines and medications for blood pressure can also cause this effect.
Psychological causes:
People who are unable to cope with emotions such as anger, stress, sadness, boredom etc. may turn to binge eating for solace.
Diseases:
Conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance and hypothyroidism can also cause obesity.
Definition:
Obesity can be simply defined as a condition where one has excess body fat. Your body mass index (BMI) can indicate if you are obese. BMI is calculated using a person’s weight and height. A BMI score between 25 to 29.9 indicates overweight and over 30 means the person is obese. You can find out your BMI by logging onto any health website on the Internet that features a BMI calculator.
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