Beating the Battle of Obesity

OBESITY

Fat, frumpy, large, cuddly, ten-ton-tessie, voluptuous, blimp, heifer; no matter the name for being overweight the facts are still the same, carrying excess body fat is not good for your health. Approximately 64 percent of men and 47 percent of women in Australia are carrying too much body fat and this means that more than ever before Australian's are FAT.

At the end of the day common sense plays a strong part in weight control. We all know deep down inside what is good for us & what is not. If you really listen to your body and try to remember how you feel after you have polished off a particular meal (whether it be a burger & fries or a chicken & salad sandwich) you should be able to gauge how certain foods make you feel. Most people, after switching to a healthier diet richer in fresh fruit and vegetables, lower in saturated fat, sugar and overall more balanced, tend to feel healthier & possess more energy to participate in life.

What is obesity?

Obesity is basically an excess of body fat. Obesity is measured using body mass index or BMI. (Body mass index is a standard used to judge body fatness. It is determined by dividing an individual's weight (in kilograms) by an individual's height (in meters) squared). A body mass index greater than 30kg/m2 is considered obese.

What complications can result from obesity?

high blood pressure (hypertension);

heart disease such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and congestive heart failure;

diabetes mellitus;

high blood cholesterol;

back problems;

greater stress on the bones and joints can cause conditions such as osteoarthritis;

certain types of cancer such as colon, rectum, prostate (in men), or breast, cervix or uterus (in women); and

psychological problems, low self-esteem.

Being slightly above a suggested weight range is not a major concern, however ideally we should all attempt to remain within a healthy weight target.

However, how much a person weighs is only part of the total picture. One very important factor is the percentage of fat in the body. For a healthy woman, fat can account for as much as 25 per cent of her body, with 17 per cent a healthy percentage for a man. A woman's body is designed to carry a higher proportion of fat tissue to ensure there is plenty of fuel for pregnancy and nursing.
It is now thought that about one-third of the Australian population is overweight.

What causes obesity?

There are a few different reasons people gain weight and become obese. The main one is that they eat more than their body uses each day, they do not participate in much regular physical activity or they have a low metabolic rate. This all results in too much body fat.

Think of a balloon. If you put more air into it than is required it will become out of proportion for its ideal shape and size. Eventually it will pop if it is filled with too much air. Now we won't "pop" but the body has other ways of showing it's displeasure with the excess weight it is carrying around.
Keep reading to see ways in which the body can rebel against the extra load:

Most common causes are:

Poor diet

Bad eating habits

Lack of exercise

Glandular Malfunctions

Emotional tension - for example, depressed or highly stressed people turn to food to gain comfort.

Boredom - people with little to do eat because they have nothing to occupy themselves.

Diabetic complications

A love of the wrong kinds of food

No self-control


What you should do

There are many things you can do, but most importantly if you feel that you are unable to help yourself, then consult some experts such as:

A doctor

A dietician or nutritionist

A fitness and dietary instructor

A remedial therapist (naturopath/herbologist/homeopath)

They can all help you with reducing your weight by:

forming a dietary program for you.

designing a low fat, high fibre diet or a diet that suits you.

assistance with an exercise program

determining the cause of your weight problem.

Treat and manage any other issues that may be affecting your weight.

assist you with modifying your behaviour if need be.

Check for dissension in your weight control and exercise program.

Obesity is about helping yourself too. You can do things such as taking up activities like swimming, walking, cycling or simply walking up the stairs instead of using the elevator and moving around more. If you are severely obese then try starting out with less weight-bearing activities like swimming, water aerobics and riding a bike.

You should attempt to have a diet that consists of moderately sized meals and losing weight does not have to mean going hungry - in fact as already discussed this is one of the most common reasons for weight gain. Try to eat meals that are lower in fat and sugar but high in fibre. The high fibre meals mean you will feel more "full". And again as already stated if you lead an inactive lifestyle you should try to introduce a form of exercise that can be done regularly such as a walk around the block.

For more reading about Obesity visit:
International Obesity Task Force
Australasian Society for the study of Obesity


- Michelle Palmer