Obesity can lead to a number of health problems, such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes and certain cancers. Obesity can cause joint problems, sleep disorders, chronic pain and disability.
How can we reduce these risks and improve our health outcomes?
Weight loss is the obvious solution. Is this the best solution?
Risk Reduction and Weight Loss
Weight loss is not a guarantee to reduce the risk of obesity. Weight loss that is not healthy or sustainable can do more harm than it does good.
Some fads diets are ineffective and even dangerous. These diets promote rapid and drastic weight losses through programs that can’t be sustained long-term. Weight gain is a common result of this type of diet, which can increase obesity-related risks.
Although liposuction and gastric bypass surgery can produce immediate results, they have little impact on cardiovascular risks. The procedures remove the fat, but do not address the plaque buildup on the arteries or insulin resistance that comes with excess weight.
Prioritizing Fitness
If you’re looking to improve your health, it may be better to focus on fitness and physical exercise than just losing weight.
Health is not just a number. It’s also about your body’s ability to perform the tasks you want or need.
Fitness is the measure of how your body functions. It takes into account things like muscle strength and flexibility, endurance and body composition.
Multiple clinical studies have shown that fitness-based and physical activity-focused interventions are more effective in reducing mortality risks related to obesity than weight loss alone. Weight loss programs have inconsistent or inconclusive effects on cardiovascular risks. However, improvements in cardiorespiratory health have consistently been shown to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and mortality from all causes. Reduce these risks.
Be Active and Eat Well
Weight loss and fitness are the key to health.
Diet and exercise are both essential to be healthy. A healthy diet will provide your body with the nutrients it needs while avoiding excessive calories, unhealthy fats and added sugars. A healthy diet should include a wide variety of whole food sources, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A good diet plan should also address the emotional and social issues that are associated with problematic eating.
The guidelines recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity. Find an activity that you enjoy, is sustainable and has a suitable level of difficulty. You could go for a walk, run, bike, swim, play sports or do some sport.
