Obesity and Weight Loss

Many of us have at one time or another, looked for a weight loss plan because of being overweight. The dangers to our health and long-term survival when overweight or being obese, cannot be underestimated and should be addressed without delay.

Obesity can be measured by BMI (body mass index), which Doctors use as a simple and widely used method for estimating body fat. It is calculated by dividing the subject's weight by the square of his/her height, typically expressed either in metric or US

Metric: BMI = kg / m2

Where kg is the person’s weight in kilograms and m is the person’s height in metres.

US/Customary: BMI = lb * 703 / in2

Where lb is the person's weight in pounds and in is the pesons's height in inches.

A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is normal weight

A BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight

A BMI of 30.0–39.9 is obese

A BMI of 40.0 or higher is severely (or morbidly) obese

Obesity can lead to severe heart disease, diabetes, and even result in death when the condition is not controlled, and can also lead to self-esteem issues that can develop into depression.

Most food from fast food outlets and restaurants are fried, cooked in fat, and packed full of processed and refined ingredients, which provide little nutritional value to those who eat it. Because the body isn’t given the nutritional ingredients it needs each day, one will tend to feel hungry even after eating a large fast food meal since their body is still craving the essentials nutrients it needs.

When does being overweight become dangerous? Doctors generally agree that a BMI of 25 or greater is a cause to lose weight and will suggest a change in diet and increased exercise. Most weight loss plans recommend we should aim to lose about 0.5kg or 1lb per week. A steady weight loss will lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes by reducing blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and cholesterol levels.

The fastest weight loss plans are not generally recommended because the results over time are generally disappointing, whereas a dietitian can advise on how to lose weight safely and by giving nutritional advice on buying and preparing foods and giving tips on how to lose weight. Most weight loss plans are designed to reduce the amount of calories (energy) the body receives each day. Excess calories are stored as fat that if not used by exercising, end up stored as fat.

Weight loss plans abound, but the above really tells the story of how to lose weight. Reduce the amount of calories consumed so as not to have any excess that is stored as fat. Whatever weight loss plan is followed to lose weight naturally and keep it off, will require a change in eating habits and an increase in activity.

Doctors will sometime prescribe some weight loss pills that suppress the appetite but there are risks associated from the side effects of most pharmaceuticals. One of the natural ways to lose weight is by the use of Hoodia pills that suppress the appetite. To learn more about weight loss using Hoodia Gordonii, Click Here.

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