Overweight as a threat to life, or why you should lose weight!
By: Maria Kroen
Tags: Weight Loss, Fat, Weightloss Foods, USA, Fat Burning Foods

According to a new study, one in three people is overweight or even obese. Being overweight has become one of humanity’s biggest problems. But why is it so dangerous?

When does weight become overweight?

At what point can we talk about being overweight? Problems are considered to start at a body mass index (BMI) value of 25, and from 30, obesity. To determine BMI, you need to identify the ratio of weight, height, age and gender. The result will be a certain number, in people with a normal weight it is between 18.5 and 25.

But people with large muscles when calculating BMI often get a misleading result, which is considered to be overweight, but in their case it is not. Therefore, only the percentage of body fat gives a more accurate result. In adult women of normal weight, it ranges from 20 to 34 percent. And in adult men, the percentage of body fat should be between 9 and 26 percent. Anything above these guideline values is called overweight.

How does being overweight come about?

The fact that people gain too much weight can have different reasons. In most cases, the culprit is an eating disorder that causes people to consume more calories than the body expends. A diet high in fat and sugar quickly leads to extra pounds. In addition, overweight people often have a lack of movement, because most of us spend all day sitting. And after work, we lie down on the couch instead of going to the gym or the pool.

However, we can only partially influence certain factors. Mental stress, fears or trauma can make us so stressed that we regularly empty the refrigerator. Obese children often learn bad eating habits from their parents or inherit a sluggish metabolism. But also certain hormonal diseases and taking medications can be the cause of being overweight.

Being overweight is life-threatening!

Some effects of being overweight are more pronounced than others. Obese people overexert themselves quickly, overwork, and sweat more often and profusely. Their breathing is heavier and they tend to snore. If obese people see themselves in the mirror, they often lose confidence because the extra pounds make them feel less attractive. As a result, they often become withdrawn and increasingly limit their quality of life.

Obese people also have a significantly increased risk of many diseases. According to a study by Canadian scientists, their life expectancy can be shortened by up to 20 years compared to people of normal weight. The most common diseases caused by being overweight include:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus. High blood pressure Dyslipidemia Shortness of breath Sleep apnea Coronary artery disease Osteoarthritis Gout Certain cancers, such as uterine or breast cancer Sex hormone imbalances Back pain.

Also, obese people are at increased risk for thrombosis and embolism, which is very dangerous and requires emergency surgery under general anesthesia.

Such prospects are far from encouraging. But where do you start to make those extra pounds disappear? Many people who are overweight feel depressed about their situation and therefore lose faith in themselves. But they can be helped by the following tips.

First, try to determine the cause of your excess weight: do you eat too much? Do you move very little? Then try to change your behavior a little bit. If you change your diet drastically, you are less likely to stick with it for a long time. You need to start small, such as replacing sweets with fruit with minimal fructose. After that, replace all sugary drinks with water and so on. It is definitely worthwhile to walk every day at least a little bit, but constantly increase the length of the walk.

It is also worth surrounding yourself with people who have the same goals as you. It is easier and more fun to lose weight with friends. You can join a weight loss group. Because sometimes even one conversation with a like-minded person helps to restore motivation and give you strength.

Finally, believe that losing weight is possible! If the scales show 3 kilograms more after the holidays, it is crucial that you continue to reach your goal and get rid of excess weight.