Healthy Living Tips

MikeA May 27th, 2010

Foreword By The Author

Weighing too much is one of the biggest causes of health problems. Even a small reduction in body weight can decrease your chances of developing the most common chronic disorders as you get older. If by now you are suffering from a medical disorder, weight loss can usually assist you in controlling it. In certain circumstances, losing weight can actually lend a hand in decreasing, and even doing away with, the necessity to take medicines at all.

Mike Alexander
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Hypertension

This is one of the main causes of cerebrovascular accident (stroke) that could result in an enduring medical problem or even loss of life. You can reduce your risk of developing hypertension if you strive to keep your weight within a healthy range. A large quantity of fat in the abdominal area increases your chances of having cardiac disorders and regular aerobic exercises are the best way to get rid of it. If your waistline is over 40 inches, you are even more at risk of having hypertension. Your body mass index (BMI) is also a significant guide in determining your likelihood of developing cardiac problems. Strive to maintain your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 for optimal health.

Hypercholesterolemia

High levels of cholesterol, or more particularly, bad cholesterol can lead to a number of cardiac complaints and other maladies. This disorder can be caused by eating too much food because the actual quantity means there is a higher likelihood of the wrong kinds of food, especially those heavy in saturated fats, being consumed. People who are overweight also tend to eat a lot of ‘fast foods’ and ‘junk foods’ because of its convenience and they are a known source of saturated fats.

Tendons And Joints

Another thing about being overweight is that it puts extra pressure on your joints, especially those in your knees, hips, and lower back. Because of this extra pressure, the cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions and protects the joints, gradually wears away, causing a form of arthritis known as osteoarthritis. Over the years, the damage to the joint may be so severe that it must be replaced surgically. Inflammation of the tendons, called tendinitis, is another common problem in overweight people. Tendons can become irritated and inflamed, especially the Achilles tendon (which stretches from your calf to your heel) from simple, everyday activities such as walking. Weight loss reduces the pressure on the joints and the tendons and therefore lessens the chance of injury. Losing weight can also ease the aching and swelling caused by osteoarthritis.

Stomach Troubles

If a person is overweight, the excessive fat in the abdominal cavity increases the pressure inside it. This can cause gastric acid to leak and go up into the esophagus which leads to stomach acid reflux. This is not only uncomfortable in its own right but can be a precurser to different forms of the medical complaint known commonly as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). People suffering from this disorder, especially when it is pronounced (which is more often than not the case among the overweight), can find their quality of life severely compromised

Self-Esteem

Those who are fat often acquire a skewed impression of themselves as they think they are seen by others. Lack of self confidence can have an unfortunate effect on certain facets of personal health and social conduct and, in severe cases, can even lead to total social withdrawal. In fact, many overweight people deliberately hide talents that would be appreciated by the community at large because they fear drawing attention to themselves. This fear of ridicule is sometimes reinforced when they find themselves being picked upon because of their body shape.

The Obesity Predicament

Those who are obese are aware they are in a predicament. They understand that their figure is not what it is supposed to be. They also know that, even though they can’t admit it, they eat more than they should. The trouble is that they might not be knowledgeable about how to change their behaviour to benefit themselves. Food consoles them. They might consider themselves useless because they cannot overcome their weight issues, which makes things even harder. Yet, they may not be equipped with the tools and support they need. This is invariably the case when they spend time among people who have no problems with their weight and really cannot understand or relate to what they are going through.

Summary

These are just a handful of the ways that being overweight can negatively affect a person’s health. The good news is that more people are becoming conscious of the complexity of weight issues and its prevention. However, recognition that being overweight can lead to increased chances of having one or more medical disorders as a direct result is important. If you weigh more than you should, you are in danger of having the following:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Arthritis
• High cholesterol
• Gastro-intestinal problems
• Joint replacement surgery
• Low self-esteem
• Social problems

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Tags: acid reflux, cholesterol, exercise, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, stroke, surgery, weight loss

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