Life is beautiful. You can enjoy your favorite TV show, meal, video game, and the list goes on for providing taste to your life. Everything is unique in its own way. You enjoy eating tasty food or bakery items as it boosts your taste buds for giving a tasteful sensation. But do you know it is more than just enjoying a meal? There is something else that is happening in parallel to make you shocked at the end.
You will be worried to see the outcomes in the form of fat layers, deposited on your body. Obviously, it is not pleasing to look at a fat body but it does not stop here. It will also make you vulnerable to many other problems such as diseases, aging, etc. In this article, we are going to understand what is obesity and how it can harm you. You need to mind those facts and act accordingly.
It is good to have some fat:
For metabolic processes, our body needs proteins, fats, carbohydrates, lips, etc. All of these essential or non-essential compounds are needed for body processes. So in this list fats are included which means that not all fats are bad. The fat percentage of every individual varies. It lies between 9.2 to 14.2 percent, depending upon the measuring method. So we all have fats and it is good to have some fats. But what’s about excessive fat?
What is obesity?
Having excessive fat or being obese is called obesity. According to the World Health Organization, obesity is the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fats inside the body.
Body Mass Index:
How do you get to know that you are overweight? The best method to figure out is the DEXA SCAN. It is not easily available everywhere. So we calculate the body mass index method also called BMI. It is just like a measuring scale that measures your body fat depending upon your height or weight. You have to divide your weight in Kg by the height in meters.
If your BMI is between the range of 18.5 to 24.9 then you are in the normal range. If it is above 25 then you are in the overweight range. But if it is above 30 then you are obese. It is a severe form of being overweight. BMI is not an accurate method to calculate your body fat because it does not include your muscle mass, body time, or any other factors. But it can give you a good estimate.
Obesity is common:
The overweight or obese is quite common now a day due to the unhealthy lifestyles that we have adopted. Our eating habits such as type of meal we eat timings, amount, etc. all together to make us overweight. In the United State of America, about 70% of people are obese because of unhealthy eating. On a worldwide scale, almost 1.9 billion adults are overweight.
Health risks of obesity:
There are several health risks for an obese person. We will discuss them in detail.
Storing fats:
The most convenient way to store fat is under the skin. This type of fat that is stored under the skin is called subcutaneous fat. Research shows that on average about 90% of the fats are subcutaneous fat. This fat can cause several skin problems such as skin rash, allergy, or any other skin-related problems. The rest of the fats will be stored in the abdominal cavity. When the fat starts depositing, it will limit the motion of the lungs. The fat stored in the visceral cavity is known as visceral fat and can cause breathing problems. This is why you have seen an obese person feel discomfort in breathing after some activities.
Osteoarthritis:
Carrying extra fats will also affect your muscular system. You can move and perform your daily activities easily because of the muscular strength that you own. But when there is extra fat then it will put weight on your joints. You will feel discomfort in your knees, hips, spine, and hands.
It makes your joints more prone to inflammation. This condition known as osteoarthritis which is caused by the loss of cartilage in joints. It will also cause some other joint diseases such as “Wear and tear” arthritis. Painful joints can even affect your daily activities.
Atherosclerosis:
It is a condition in which fat starts depositing in your blood vessels. The deposition causes narrowing blood vessels which will ultimately increase blood pressure or hypertension. It can damage your arteries and heart. However, you are also prone to many other associated diseases such as sexual dysfunction, kidney or eye damage, etc. In extreme conditions, hypertension can cause heart failure or stroke. Due to the narrowing of the arteries, the blood supply to the heart muscles will decrease and then it will die. The condition is known as ischemic heart disease which is a leading cause of death. About 10 million people die annually due to heart disease.
Hormonal imbalance:
The fat deposition in your body will cause several hormones to release which make you prone to several diseases. Leptin is one of those hormones which is predominantly produced by the fat cells. It causes your kidney to excrete less water compared to the normal secretion which ultimately causes high blood pressure. The increased secretion of estrogen in the body will increase the risk of cancer.
The most common cancers associated with obesity are breast, colorectal, lungs, liver, kidney, and bladder cancer. The visceral fat which is deposited in your liver is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. It can cause several liver complications such as cirrhosis or liver failure. Insulin resistance is also an associated problem that is the main cause of type II diabetes.
How to prevent obesity:
We had a detailed account that how obesity can be damaging for you. And if not controlled timely it can also cause serious health hazards. In order to avoid extra excess fat, you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It does not mean that you have to stop eating for burning extra calories. Remember, if you will do so your body will go on starvation and start depositing food. So instead of losing weight, you will gain more.
You will only deposit fat when you are eating unhealthy and in extra amount. Just concentrate on the quality and then on the quantity of food you are eating. Avoid sweets or junk food which plays a key role in making you obese. Eat more vegetables and engage yourself in some hard activity for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Scientists predict that people who keep on sitting while working are 6-12 times more prone to die from obesity as compared to normal people.
Conclusion:
Obesity is one of the leading causes of several health risks. It can damage your organs, muscles and can make you prone to several diseases. An excessive amount of fats will damage your body in a big way. You are supposed to store more fats under your skin, in the visceral cavity, and inside the organ. Also, you will carry it everywhere as well as cope with the hormonal imbalance. You need to adopt a healthy lifestyle for avoiding obesity because it can make you vulnerable to many troubles in the future.
