One of the many health concerns
that many Australian men are facing right now is obesity, so much so that the
medical community has considered it an epidemic. Obesity is a condition wherein
a person has accumulated an excessive amount of body fat to the point that he
or she is at greater risk of suffering from numerous health problems. For the
most part, it is brought about by excessive food intake, and lack of exercise
or any physical activity. In some cases, it is brought about by genetics,
medical reasons, or even psychiatric ailments. There are other factors for
obesity, but one thing is for sure; it negatively impacts one’s overall health
The epidemic that is obesity is
truly an alarming public health concern, much like how people perceived of
malnutrition and the spread of infectious diseases. Hence, weight loss for men
suffering from obesity is extremely important. Obesity results in shorter life
expectancy due to its association with certain diseases and ailments. Indeed,
most of the conditions related to obesity target the major organs of the body,
including the heart and the liver. Here are some of them:
·
Coronary
heart disease – The increase in the body-mass index (BMI) likewise heightens
the risk of obtaining this disease. With plaque (atheroma) build-up in the
heart’s arteries (the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart),
blood flow may be restricted, causing either angina or a heart attack.
·
Stroke
– Stroke happens when the brain does not get sufficient oxygen due to
restricted blood flow brought about by the build-up of plaque in the arteries.
It could be either ischemic or hemorrhagic; ischemic strokes are due to the
interruption of blood supply in the brain, while hemorrhagic strokes are due to
a blood vessel rupture that forms a blood clot.
·
Hypertension
or high-blood pressure – Having hypertension means that the blood pressure in
the arteries is higher than normal. High-blood pressure causes strain to the
heart as pumping blood in and out of it becomes difficult. Considered as one of
the major factors for heart disease, it increases as people age and gain
weight. As people reach obese weight levels, the blood volume and arterial
resistance tends to increase as well. It causes stroke, artery aneurysm, and
other diseases involving the arteries.
·
Diabetes
– Another health risk of obesity is diabetes, particularly Type 2. It is
characterized with high blood sugar levels due to the fact that cells that are
responsible for carrying glucose (the byproduct of the breakdown of food)
cannot anymore respond to the function of the hormone insulin, which is turn
glucose into energy. With the body resistant to insulin, the blood sugar levels
can’t be controlled, causing the disease. Type 2 diabetes further increases the
risks of an obese person to suffer from early death, coronary heart disease,
stroke, and even blindness. If you have high sugar level, then it is best to
get your food from a health food
store online as it will offer you hundreds of healthy food options.
·
Sleep
apnea – Formally known as obstructive sleep apnea, it is a condition that is
characterized with repeated pauses in breathing while a person is sleeping.
With symptoms like snoring and restlessness while sleeping, this is often
common in people with obesity. The accumulation of fat around the neck may
cause the narrowing of the airways, which makes it hard for people to breathe.
·
Cancer
– Obesity can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancers by about
50 percent. Cancer of the colon, the breasts, and gallbladder are some of the
ailments associated with people with obesity.
If you don’t change your
lifestyle and your diet, it is not impossible to contract any of the mentioned
serious health problems. Start living a healthier life; it’s never too late!
You can start with little steps. You can do light workouts and start
substituting unhealthy snacks with health food store online products. However,
don’t overdo things as it may cause adverse effects on your body. The secret is
to do things gradually until your body starts to adapt to the changes.
