Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through normal daily activities and exercise. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.
The obesity epidemic has no single or simple solution.
The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is not just short-term dietary changes. It is about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.
What are the main causes of obesity?
These include lifestyle choices such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, environmental factors, and genetics.
The most important strategies for preventing obesity are:
- Maintaining a healthy eating habit- choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and protein sources. Limiting consumption of unhealthy foods, intermittent fasting and calorie deficit meals helps in maintaining weight loss.
- Increasing physical activities and limiting screen time — People who are obese should start regular physical activity especially when they starta healthy eating plan. Being active helps you use calories. Regular physical activity may help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Improving sleep -Not having a good amount of sleep can determine how much fat is lost as well as how much muscle mass one can retain while on a calorie restricted diet. In other words too little sleep can make you eat more than necessary. The recommended sleep duration for adults is seven to nine hours per night.
- Reducing stress — Learning to recognize stress and developing relaxation skills can help you gain control of unhealthy eating habits.
Obese people are at a high risk of multiple health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, digestive problems and certain cancers that need medical management.
If you’re concerned about your weight or weight-related health problems, go see a doctor about obesity management. You and your doctor can evaluate your health risks and discuss your weight-loss options.
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