Historically, there has never been a period of time when a section of the population has not been overweight. Traditionally, being overweight was a sign of affluence that the person was wealthy enough that they did not have to do any labor. The thin person was usually someone who spent many hours toiling in the fields just so they could feed their family. Today the perception has started to change as we understand more of the causes of obesity. Now the thin person is viewed as the healthy one, the person who is expected to live a long life.
The reason this information is so alarming is that so many health issues including diabetes, certain types of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, and gout can be connected to obesity. In addition to the physical health problems associated with obesity there are also psychological problems, including low self-esteem and depression that are common to people who are struggling with weight. Before a person can start losing weight, they have to determine the causes of obesity and these may be different from one person to another.
Not all people are obese because they are lazy and do not eat right. Some overweight people actually lead very healthy lifestyles and are quite active, but for some reason they simply cannot seem to lose any weight. Many experts believe that there is an underlying reason for these individual’s obesity.
Children who are overweight often turn into obese adults. There are two reasons for this. The first is that the child probably did not learn any of the habits that make weight loss easier. The second being that the older a person gets, the slower their metabolism becomes and the harder it is to lose weight. Getting a child involved in physical activities such as after school sports and swimming lessons will not only help encourage a healthy lifestyle, but will also help their self-esteem.
When a person is overweight, it is not uncommon for them to say that the excess weight is the result of a glandular condition. While this might sound like a cop out, often it is not. One of the side effects of conditions such as hypothyroidism is that the person gains weight easily and finds it extremely difficult to shed the unwanted pounds.
Many people believe that the biggest reason people become obese has to do with stress. When the average person gets stressed they eat. This would not be a problem except the foods they eat are usually comfort foods that are high in preservatives and sugars. If the person is able to reduce their stress, they should also be able to reduce their calorie intake.
Genetics seem to play a role in obesity. The child of obese parents is more likely to be overweight than the child of two fit parents. Part of this has to do with inherited metabolism, but some of it might have to do with learned behavior as well. If a child’s parents are active, the child is more likely to become active and vice versa.
The environment can also be a factor in a person’s body mass. Some people are a great deal more sensitive to the effects of pollution and pesticides than others; some people are so sensitive that eating from plastic dining ware can change their body chemistry. For these sensitive people, the environment is definitely one of the causes of obesity.
Want to return to a healthy and slim condition? You need to prepare a realistic diet and exercise plan for yourself. You can find some tips and techniques by visiting the website at http://www.bodyoffire.co.uk soon.