Sometimes understanding and opening your eyes to the world of obesity is the first step to saving yourself from a vicious cycle of being unhealthy. If your BMI is 30 and over, you may be considered obese, and there are many ways you can improve and live the healthier life you deserve. Everyone has to start somewhere, but starting today is only going to result in health benefits.
Let's Start with Understanding
According to the NHS, obesity is caused by consuming fatty and sugary foods, performing less physical activity, and storing “excess energy” by body fat. As modern living is generally reliant on sitting at our desks all day from 9-5, we leave the office, get in our cars, sit on our sofas, watch TV, and eat high-fat and sugar snacks.
Changing your diet and increasing your physical inactivity will help you to improve your health. Still, sometimes you may need support such as weight loss surgery designed to help you reduce your portion sizes, leading to a healthier long-term lifestyle.
Though you may be trying to eat healthier and exercise daily, sometimes it can be down your mental state and control, and many people suffer to get this part right, and that is why weight loss surgery can be a tool for you and help you long term.
Binge eating is a common factor, and the NHS discuss the four symptoms: “eating when not hungry, eating very fast during a binge, eating alone or secretly, feeling depressed, guilty, ashamed or disgusted after binge eating”. If you are familiar with these symptoms and need help and support, you can read our patient success stories of Kerry and Alison, who had a binge eating disorder and controlled their bad habits after weight loss surgery.
"39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese." - World Health Organization
In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese." - World Health Organization
"Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight." - World Health Organization
"39 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2020." - World Health Organization
Now we understand, Let's Change
So what do we do now? We know all the facts, understand obesity more, and know how damaging it can be for your body.
So how do we change? Let’s start with our daily choices, such as your food intake and physical activity. Write down what you are eating daily, use a portion plate and be honest with yourself. That is the first step to improving.
- set boundaries for your total fats and sugar intake
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- involve yourself in physical activity; you should complete at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.
But sometimes that isn’t enough, and as previously discussed, there could be a lot of psychological factors behind being obese, and there is lots of support out there to help you.
If you need support today, don’t feel alone or feel like it stops here because this could be the beginning.