Being overweight and obese can raise the risks of health
problems. Obesity
is also no longer a condition that just affects older people,
although the likelihood does increase with age, and increasing numbers of young
people have been diagnosed with obesity.
What are the health risk of overweight and obesity?
Heart Disease
Obesity can lead to heart failure. This is a serious
condition in which your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body’s
needs. Plaque can narrow or block the coronary arteries and reduce blood flow
to the heart muscle.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls
of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If the pressure stays high over the
time, the body can be damaged in many ways. The chances of having high blood
pressure can be greater if you are overweight or obese.
Cancer
Gaining weight as an adult increases the risk for several
cancers, even if the weight gain doesn't result in overweight or obesity. It
isn't known exactly how being overweight increases cancer risk. Fat cells may
release hormones that affect cell growth, leading to cancer. Also, eating or
physical activity habits that may lead to being overweight may also contribute
to cancer risk.
Fatty Liver Disease
The cause of fatty liver disease is still not known. The
disease most often affects people who are middle-aged, overweight or obese,
and/or diabetic. Fatty liver disease may also affect children.
How to lose weight the right way?
Choose healthy food
Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthy food choices,
keep your calorie needs and your family's calorie needs in mind, and focus on
the balance of energy IN and energy OUT.
Focus on portion size
Watch the portion
sizes in fast food and other restaurants. The portions served often are enough
for two or three people. Children's portion sizes should be smaller than those
for adults. Cutting back on portion size will help you balance energy IN and
energy OUT.
Exercise regularly
Be active. Make personal and family time active. Find
activities that everyone will enjoy. You need to get 150 to 300 minutes of
moderate-intensity activity a week to prevent weight gain. Moderately intense
physical activities include fast walking and swimming. You can do go for a
brisk walk, bike or rollerblade, or train together for a walk or run as well.
Reduce screen time
Limit the use of TVs,
computers, DVDs, and videogames because they limit time for physical activity.
Health experts recommend 2 hours or less a day of screen time that's not work-
or homework-related.
Keep track of your weight, body mass index, and waist
circumference regularly. Also, keep track of your children's growth.
Posted by Phue Mon Wai
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