Category: Weight Loss

November 25, 2019

How Does Obesity Affect the Body?

How does obesity affect the body?

In this looks-obsessed society, many people think that overweight is an appearance issue. Being overweight is actually a medical concern as it can affect the health of a person. It can cause diabetes and hypertension and also affect the joints, sleep, energy and mood.

As per the Ayurveda aspect:

In Ayurveda, it has been clearly mentioned that the basic 7 seven elements that govern the body are called as dhatus. Out of these seven dhatus, one dhatu is meda (fat). The excessive accumulation of meda in the body channels leads to obesity.

Obesity Treatment in Ayurveda

How overweight can be defined?

Obesity is a chronic and serious disease that has effects on body systems. Being overweight increases the risk of developing some serious conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and joints, and bones related disorders, etc. In some of cases, it may also lead to disability or early death.

When there is too much fat accumulation in the body, it causes various disorders in the body.

Obesity is epidemic and it can affect the kids, teens as well as the adults.

What are the causes of being overweight or obesity?

Obesity tends to be caused due to genetic factors. Most people have a genetic tendency to gain weight more easily. Genes influence the body’s type and size. Chances increased to 25% if one or both the parents are obese. Several environmental factors also play an important role in it.

Most of the people are gaining too much weight or becoming overweight because of the unhealthy food (like eating fast foods and preserved foods) and family habits (eating meals in front of the TV instead of sitting on the dining table). Overeating in combination with a sedentary lifestyle also leads to obesity. Consumption of foods that contain high calories, low nutrients, beverages, and less activity contributes to the obesity epidemic.

Metabolic factors also play an important role in determining weight gain. A hormone called peptide regulates the appetite and triggers hunger and gives you a feeling of fullness after eating the food.

What are the impacts of obesity on the body?

Obesity can cause various health-related conditions that hamper the daily lifestyle and make the person physically, mental and socially inactive.

It includes

Heart disease:

Accumulation of the fat tissue in the body needs nutrients and oxygen content that are required for the circulation of more blood to the fat tissue through the blood vessels. This increases the workload of the heart on the vessels. More circulation of blood means more pressure on the walls of the arteries which increases the blood pressure.

American heart association has stated that obesity is a major risk factor for the heart-related disease. People with obesity are at a greater risk for coronary artery disease. It also means that obese people have a higher risk of heart stroke or heart attack. Severe obesity is also associated with arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Diabetes mellitus:

Obesity is the main cause of type 2 diabetes and it usually begins in the adult stage but due to improper diet and lifestyle, it is now occurring in children. High blood sugar levels can also cause heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and stroke. Obesity causes insulin resistance, thus elevates the blood sugar level.

Sleep apnea:

Sleep apnea causes the people to stop breathing for a short period which causes an interruption in the sleep throughout the night and causes sleepiness. This may lead to snoring and is also associated with restricted breathing. An overweight person may have the chance of accumulation of fat around the neck. It makes the airway smaller which makes the breathing loud or difficult.

Bone-related problems or joint damage:

Obesity contributes to the number of disorders of bones and joint tissues. It increases the risk of personal injuries and accidents. It mainly affects the knees and hips because of the stress put on the joints by being overweight. People with heavy weight or obesity have higher levels of substances that cause inflammation. This may increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Causes of Obesity

Cancer:

Women who are suffering from obesity are at an increased risk of cancer such as breast, colon, uterus and gall bladder. Men with obesity have a higher risk of prostate and colon cancer etc.

Fatty liver:

Obesity is the main cause of the fatty liver and non-alcoholic liver disease which cause scarring of the liver and result in the alteration of the liver functions and have a higher risk of liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Symptoms include retention of fluid, indigestion, abdominal pain, etc.

Psychosocial effects on the body:

In this culture with the idea of physical attractiveness is to be thin, those who are obese or overweight suffer various disadvantages. These are blamed for their health or condition. It is not easy for an overweight person having a lower income or having fewer or no romantic relationships. Disapproval may lead to discrimination, bias or torment.

Some other common health problems:

Gall bladder stones:

Accumulation and buildup of bile harden the gall bladder and forms gall stones. This condition can be painful and according to the symptoms and duration, it may require surgery.

Muscle and joint pain:

Wearing and tearing of the joints by any injury, carrying extra weight or accidents may lead to arthritis in adults.

Depression:

People who are obese or overweight are likely to be depressed and the person may lose his/her confidence and have a lower esteem level.

What are the symptoms of obesity?

BMI more than 30 (BMI defines as the accumulation of the excessive fat content in the body)

  • Excessive perspiration
  • Snoring
  • Breathlessness
  • Pain in joints and back region
  • Tiredness
  • Unable to cope with sudden physical activity
  • Low confidence level

What are the complications of being overweight or obesity?

  • Due to excessive fat accumulation, there will be constant pressure on the veins and arteries which may lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack or myocardial infarction.
  • Improper blood circulation to the brain may lead to a stroke.
  • Infertility is the main complication of obesity.
  • The person might feel socially unacceptable and has a lower esteem level which results in depression.
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October 24, 2019

Lose weight with Ayurveda and Herbs

Overview

When your BMI (Body mass index) is more than thirty (30), this means you are obese, if your BMI is 25 to 29.9 means that you are overweight but not obese. The factors which influence the relationship between BMI and body fat depending upon bone or muscle mass, age, sex or ethnicity.

BMI is the main indicator of excess weight and fat in your body.

Main Symptoms of Obesity

Causes which are the culprit behind obesity are:

Sedentary lifestyle:

The lifestyle which has poor routine means you are running against nature.

Diet:

Junk foods or fast foods, foods full of flour without fiber, cold drinks containing (carbonated beverages)

Insomnia (sleeping disorders):

Sleeping disorder means not sleeping properly can also make you obese, leading to hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and crave for high-calorie food.

Pregnancy:

Once you get pregnant weight gain during pregnancy can be difficult to lose and may lead to obesity.

Age:

Getting older is also one of the reasons for obesity as you are shedding your MM (Muscle mass) with passing years and your metabolic rate is also getting slower.

Medical conditions:

Osteoarthritis (OA):

Osteoarthritis is the most chronic condition which targets the joints of a patient. Two bones when they meet at a point, in the end, are covered with a tissue that protects it (bones), is known as cartilage. Osteoarthritis when this cartilage breaks down, causing bones to rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Due to this problem which leads the patient to inactivity is one of the main causes of obesity.

Cushing syndrome:

Cortisol hormone of stress, increases in an amount in our body, it is also one of the biggest causes of obesity in the body.

PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome):

Hormonal conditions, which is the culprit behind the imbalance of female reproductive system, is also one of the reasons behind obesity in females.

Excessive hunger (Prader-Willi syndrome):

The condition with which a person is born with, due to which he feels excessive hunger.

Environment and community:

Your environment can also lead to make you obese means, the peers, relatives close to you, the environment at your home, at school, and the people you work with. The community you belong to, all these factors can influence your health. It depends upon how you eat and how physical activities are you e.g. the neighborhood where you live, if it is not good place to play, run, walk or for recreation than you might be in the zone of obesity.

Medications:

Birth control pills, steroids, antidepressants, some other drugs which are not good for health may also be the reason for your big tummy (Obesity).

Depression:

It is also one of the biggest causes of obesity as persons suffering from depression needs some emotional comfort, which he/she might be found in eating (overeating of snacks or food).

Smoking:

It leads you to gain weight and if you want to quit it, it is one of the best decision of your life as it helps you in winning many hurdles of your life including reducing the chances of lung cancer but remember one thing when you are going to quit it, it also tends you to get more weight so it is advised to you during that phase when you stop smoking, you should also start having healthy diet and do exercise.

Diagnosis of obesity:

To diagnose obesity, other than BMI test skinfold thickness, waist to hip comparisons, simply fat around your waist just check it with (inch tape). Screening tests such as ultrasound, CT scan (Computed tomography), and MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging), heart test ECG (Electrocardiogram) are also available.

Laboratory tests:

Cholesterol in blood, Glucose level, Liver function test (LFT), Thyroid test.

Complications or hazards of Obesity:

Heart disease :

Obesity may be one of the top reasons to give you the problem of heart disease, which is a life-threatening disease, if not treated on time.

Fatty liver:

Your obesity can lead you to this disease also. The liver is the 2nd largest organ of your body, It helps to filter harmful substances from your blood and process nutrients from what you eat (food and drinks), so try to avoid obesity as it harms the liver which is very important organ of your body, and can be very dangerous to your health.

High Cholesterol:

Obesity, which is directly linked with bad cholesterol LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) Cholesterol is a type of lipid which your liver produces naturally. It is essential for some hormones and vitamin D, which is vital for the formation of cell membranes. If your body contains an excessive amount of LDL, it is very harmful as it leads to many diseases like a stroke and heart attack.

High blood pressure:

Hypertension or blood pressure is a condition when the pressure of your blood reaches an unhealthy level; means the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is too high. It leads one to death if not treated on time and obesity is one of the reasons for this problem. If you are obese it means you are having more chances of getting a high blood pressure or hypertension.

Ayurveda and obesity:

According to Ayurveda, overweight or obesity is due to an excessive quantity of “Kapha” in the body, so to have optimal weight you need to go Ayurvedic way of life.

Ayurveda prefers:

Kapha pacifying diet:

As eating a Kapha pacifying diet helps to clear excess Kapha from the body, supports the body to achieve balanced weight.

Meals:

Having meals at regular intervals, 3 times a day is necessary to shun away the problem of being overweight. Unnecessary snacks between meals should be avoided.
Breakfast should be one of the main and big meals of your daily routine. Dinner should be very light, consisting of green veggies and salads rather than heavy sugary and salty meal and it should be around 7 pm daily. Digestive fire can be stimulated before meals by chewing some ginger with sea salt.

Yoga:

Include yoga in your daily routine. Other forms of exercises along with yoga like Pilates exercises are also recommended throughout the whole world, by best physicians and dieticians of the world.

Make a daily routine:

Disciplined lifestyle is one of the recommendations by Ayurveda since time immortal, as it is one of the parts of Ayurveda to live a disciplined life as waking early and early to bed is the mantra for healthy life and prosperity by Ayurveda. As being in a regular routine makes you better in each and every field of life. So being disciplined and following a routine makes you shun away the problems of stress and gives you peace of mind. Try it, believe us, it will certainly give s you a positive result and helps you to cope with the problem of obesity.

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