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| Map of Energy consumption (kcal/person/day) per country in 2001-2003. World average was 2800 kcal/person/day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
For every problem there is a cause and the problem with obesity is no different. Here are reasons why obesity is reaching an epidemic proportions around the world.
Enormous amounts of money is spend on weight loss diets to help people lose weight but the results are less than encouraging.
Obesity is a very visible and neglected problem. It can lead to complications including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases, stroke and certain forms of cancer.
The reasons why obesity is a problem
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| Picture of an Obese Teenager (146kg/322lb) with Central Obesity, side view.Self Made Picture of an Obese Teenager (Myself) (146kg/322lb) with Central Obesity, Front View. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
1. Our diets have changed
Over the past 50 years, the food we consumed has changed tremendously. People are taking in more processed food. Processed foods is high in fat, sugar and calories.
Furthermore, more and more people prefer to eat out at restaurants and fast food chains and far more frequently than in the past for the sake of convenience.
Eating out has its issues too. We tend to eat more because the serving size is larger and on top of that less nutritious. Such changes to our diets do not make weight loss an easy thing to do.
What can be done?
- People need to begin eating healthy diets again. We really need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
- We also need to have home cooked meals. We can then control the calories, fats and sugar content in our daily diets.
- Such foods need to be easily and readily accessible in local markets to the communities as well as economical for lower income groups.
- Unhealthy diets should not be cheaper than diets that contain healthy food choices.
If such implementations are successful, weight loss can then be more attainable.
2. Physical activity…or lack there of
We are living in the age of technology advancement, so much so that people prefer to spend long hours sitting at the computer desk or watching television.
A demanding work life, dual income families, high traffic areas can lead to stress and bogs down the average person's frame of mind and saps their energy that lead them to sedentary lifestyles.
What needs to happen?
- No matter what, we need to be active-use the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car further away from your work place.
- Plan an outdoor activity for your family.
- Have easier access for families to go biking and walking
- Parents should limit TV or video games time and get their kids to play games that make them move their bodies more.
- Parents should make sure that their children are getting sufficient physical activities in school
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| The ratio of calorific contributions from food components of four diets (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
3. Fad dieting
There are so many fad diets out there that make fantastic promises that if you follow, will make you lose weight and fast. Cabbage, low carb, no carb, zero calorie diets are commonly heard of or tried.
In reality, over time such diets actually make you gain weight instead of losing the pounds. It is a vicious cycle. You go on a diet by eating a 'good' food that helps you to lose weight, then when it does not work,you switch to another diet that advocates eating delicious calorie packed food and resulting in you gaining all the weight back. A yo-yo diet like that is not only unsuccessful, it is also unhealthy.
What do you need to do?
The simple answer is stop dieting to lose weight and change the types of food we consume.
Adopt a lifestyle change by:-
- Include healthier foods in your daily diet
- Add physical activity
- Weekly detoxification
At first, you may find these changes difficult, but if you can stay on track, they will become easier. The weight drop will be slow but gradual and most importantly you stay healthy, have more energy, and feel better about your overall well being.
According to a study by the International Food Information Council, about 70 per cent of people are concerned with their weight and are mindful of what their eat in order to lose weight. Food is just one factor in the obesity epidemic.
There are many other factors including those mentioned here created an obese society. To conquer this epidemic, all factors need to be addressed to eradicate or at least lower the obesity rates.
When is it all said and done, we owe it to ourselves to live a healthy life.
My next topic for discussion is, "How To Make Homemade Sugars And Salt Scrubs."
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MY POEM CORNER
Changes
Some people change for the better,
Some people can't, don't know any better,
Don't want to change because of the Ego,
Changes, when they know where to go.
We all change little by little.
In the mind or in the physical.
Death pushes back the level.
Philo Yan
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.
Until my next post,
Here's To Your Health!
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