Shedding excess weight is one of the toughest challenges you will face in your life. You have to push yourself through some really intense workouts, eat a restrictive diet, and swallow a lot of pills and supplements to reach your goal (and even so, many of us are still not successful).
The good news is, there’s a much easier way to break out of fat traps and avoid the hassle and weight fluctuations that are common with long-term diets. But first, let’s understand the extent of the problem.
What’s the Extent of the Problem?
In the U.S., almost 40% of adults are obese. That’s a major public health problem and it’s estimated that obesity costs the U.S. $190 billion each year.
It’s not just an American problem, though. According to the World Health Organization, obesity has nearly doubled since 1980 and is growing in every country in the world — including developing countries where obesity-related diseases weren’t a factor just a few years ago.
Understanding Obesity?
Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetics.
A report published in the journal BMC Public Health indicates that unless we take action now, obesity will overtake smoking as the leading cause of cancer in women within the next decade.
When it comes to fighting obesity, there are two main approaches: prevention (diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes) and treatment (medical procedures). In this article, we’ll take a look at both approaches, what they involve and how effective they are.
The Best Ways to Fight Obesity
- Check the nutritional content of what you eat
Being overweight is often referred to as ‘being overfed but undernourished.’ When you eat fast food or ready meals, you might be consuming enough calories but the nutritional value won’t be high and that means you will struggle to maintain an active lifestyle.
When trying to lose weight, focus on eating more fruit and vegetables; these are packed with nutrients so your body receives the fuel it needs to help you lose weight while also giving you the energy boost needed for exercise.
If you have a sweet tooth then replace sugary snacks with healthy alternatives such as fresh fruit or yogurt.
- Medication
As of 2014, orlistat (Xenical) was the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use with lifestyle modification. The drug reduces the absorption of dietary fats by about 30%. The American Academy of CPR & First Aid recommends using orlistat in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
- Keep off sugary foods
Soft drinks contain high amounts of sugar, which is why they should be avoided if you’re trying to lose weight. Instead, try drinking more water and herbal teas with natural antioxidants that can boost your immune system and give you more energy throughout the day.
- Surgery
Surgical procedures may be considered for people who have not been able to lose weight through dieting or other methods. Surgery may be an option in those whose BMI test results are over 35 or those with a BMI of 30 who have other risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, or type 2 diabetes.
One of the most popular ways to treat obesity is by weight loss surgery. The surgical procedures for treating obesity are known as bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery can be helpful for people who have extreme obesity and related health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Obesity surgery is also known as weight loss surgery and involves either reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band or removing a large portion of it (gastrectomy).
Final Words
Being overweight has a lot of negative effects on the human body. Aside from the fact that it can cause you to appear unattractive, it also puts you at risk of developing a number of diseases.
Follow the above strategies to manage your overweight body before it worsens to obesity.
