Am I obese?

Mankind’s scientific progress has brought with it a host of health problems. One of the chief problems is obesity. This problem is found in kids, men and women. However, in women it has some severe impacts.

Read more to know about obesity, how you can prevent it from getting worse, and occur again in future.

What does it mean to be obese?

As we say, excess of anything is dangerous and destructive. Same is the case with your weight. Obesity is a condition of excessive accumulation of body fat to the point that it has adverse effects on health. Women with body weight 30% more than the ideal are considered obese. Almost one out of six women in India is overweight.

What causes obesity in women?

1. The most prominent cause is unhealthy eating habits. This means having the wrong kind of food at wrong timings. The wrong kinds of food include junk food and food that provide empty calories.


2. Lack of physical activity of any kind.


3. Emotional factors like stress and depressiontoo can lead to obesity.


4. Hormonal imbalances and disorders like polycystic ovarian disease.


5. Sometimes obesity may be a result of genetic disorders too.

How to know if I am plump or obese?

There is huge difference in being plump and obese. Being plump depicts being healthily fat. The signs of being obese include:

1. Low energy levels


2. Shortness of breath


3. Disinterest in physical activities


4. Irritability


5. Pain in back and joints

 

How can being obese affect me?

Obesity not only affects your physical health, it affects your lifestyle, attitude, behavior and lot more. In short, this drastic change in your weight changes the world around you. Here are few prominent changes which obesity causes to your life: gout, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), arthritis and high cholesterol levels

 

What can be done to treat or prevent obesity?

1. The first thing to do is say a NO to junk food.


2. Exercising is the best therapy. Don’t wait for anything and start exercising today. It will help your prevent other health problems as well.


3. Be food savvy and adapt healthy food and eating habits. Because what you eat today, is what your life becomes tomorrow.


4. Stop being a couch potato. Incorporate some physical activity in your daily routine.


5. Be very careful with your medications. Treatments of certain medical conditions can lead to hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovarian disease, and depression, which in turn may lead to obesity.


6. Ascertain your ideal weight as per Body Mass Index (BMI)and start working towards achieving it.