Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and has become a global health issue, especially among kids, thanks to the growing consumption of fast food items with massive calories. It is more rampant in English-speaking countries, where it is turning out to be a threat to the economy. Obesity affects various aspects of life in numerous ways.
General Factors
Many factors are responsible for this obesity epidemic. Genetics, unhealthy eating habits, family lifestyle, sleeplessness, medical conditions, social or economic issues, certain medications, and lack of physical activity. One major cause of obesity is attributed to an unhealthy diet combined with a highly inactive lifestyle.
Consuming an excessive amount of food with monstrous calories and not expanding it can cause enormous weight gain in individuals.
Lifestyle Shift
People in this modern era are heavier than their forefathers. Striking differences can be found in the lifestyle of people today and people in ancient times. Convenience has made men lazier than ever before. There are cars for traveling, the internet for shopping, television for entertainment, and every other thing is easily accessible. Kids are also becoming victims of this health problem at a very young age.
They are fast food junkies and are more into video gaming than physical sports. As they grow older, they suffer from physical as well as psychological problems, including low self-esteem. Obesity in children is a major cause of concern in developed nations.
Life has become more complicated, challenging, and highly competitive. Individuals consumed in their hectic schedules, don’t give a thought about how their health is being affected. The pressure to overdo others adds to the already stressed lifestyle.
This leads to worries and sleep deprivation. Individuals then look for other ways to cope with their troubles. Food seems to offer the best comfort in such situations. They turn to junk food, which is easily available at a cheaper cost. Fast foods are high in unhealthy substances such as salt, fat, oil, and sugar. Snacking on such calorie-rich food and a sedentary life cause overweight and obesity.
Health Risks of Obesity
Obesity not only makes you look less attractive but it is also associated with many health problems. The risk of premature death is two times higher for an individual who is overweight by 40% than a person with normal weight. Several serious health hazards are known to affect obese individuals.
These problems include stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, asthma, and others. The more overweight an individual is, the more likely he/she is to develop health issues. The risk of developing chronic diseases is high in obese people compared to normal people. Did you know that a massive 22 million Americans have sleep apnea? However, you’ll be happy to know that surgery isn’t the only option.
Obese people can benefit in many ways by losing weight. You need to adopt a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen. Counting your calorie intake and making smart choices help in avoiding unnecessary weight gain.
Food items such as burgers, cheese fries, ice creams, chocolate shakes, tacos, chips, cookies, chicken, meat sandwiches, etc are no doubt very tempting but contain thousands of calories in just a single serving. Therefore, fast food with the most calories should be eliminated from the diet for good.
