Responsibility_for_Health

Responsibility for health. There is a saying- Health is the wealth. Keeping in mind this saying I chose my topic of the paper. Because of the increasing pace of life and stress, people often have no time to care for their health, follow a healthy lifestyle. First to be influenced diet, it is low-nutrition, unhealthy, saturated fats, preservatives. Hence the very serious problem today is obesity and overweight. That kind of problem affects the whole organism. The difficulty with breathing, heart and vascular problems, greater likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, joint pain, they are just some of the problems related to this very modern disease-obesity. I think if people can not be responsible for the nature-given gift of health, he is unable to live responsibly as a whole. Obesity Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Body mass index (BMI), a measurement which compares weight and height, defines people as overweight (pre-obese) if their BMI is between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, and obese when it is greater than 30 kg/m2. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive dietary calories, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility, although a few cases are caused primarily by genes, endocrine disorders, medications or psychiatric illness. Evidence to support the view that some obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is limited; on average obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass. Dieting and physical exercise are the mainstays of treatment for obesity. To supplement this, or in case of failure, anti-obesity drugs may be taken to reduce appetite or inhibit fat absorption. In severe cases, surgery is performed or an intragastric balloon is placed to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length, leading to earlier satiation and reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food. Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity is stigmatized in much of the modern world (particularly in the Western world), though it was widely perceived as a symbol of wealth and fertility at other times in history, and still is in some parts of the world. [1] Overweight Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary. As much as 64% of the United States adult population is considered either overweight or obese, and this percentage has increased over the last four decades. Excess weight has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults being either overweight or obese Increases have been observed across all age groups. A healthy body requires a minimum amount of fat for the proper functioning of the hormonal, reproductive, and immune systems, as thermal insulation, as shock absorption for sensitive areas, and as energy for future use. But the accumulation of too much storage fat can impair movement and flexibility, and can alter the appearance of the body. [2] Being overweight is generally caused by the intake of more calories (by eating) than are expended by the body (by exercise and everyday living). Factors which may contribute to this imbalance include: * Limited physical exercise and sedentary lifestyle * Overeating * Poor nutrition * Genetic predisposition * Hormonal imbalances (e.g. hypothyroidism) * Metabolic disorders, which could be caused by repeated attempts to lose weight by weight cycling * Eating disorders (such as binge eating) * Alcoholism * Stress * Insufficient or poor-quality sleep * Psychotropic medication (e.g. olanzapine) * Smoking cessation and other stimulant withdrawal [3] * An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. * An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. [4] What is Body Mass Index (BMI)' The BMI is a statistical measurement derived from your height and weight. Although it is considered to be a useful way to estimate healthy body weight, it does not measure the percentage of body fat. The BMI measurement can sometimes be misleading - a muscleman may have a high BMI but have much less fat than an unfit person whose BMI is lower. However, in general, the BMI measurement can be a useful indicator for the 'average person'. [5] Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2000. (2002). National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. How can obesity be treated' Conservative methods of treating obesity like exercising and dieting should always be tried first. Patients will need to be committed to their exercise schedule and diet plans for a significant period of time before they expect results. Such health programs should never be abandoned after the first round of weight loss as weight can come back right away. Weight loss surgery should be the last resort in the fight against obesity, because any surgery comes with risks and side-effects. Obesity needs a concerted effort from not only the obese individual but his/her family and friends. And the sooner obesity treatment starts, the better, as it takes a long time for people to lose weight. [7] Spots Most of the overweight people may face difficulty when doing certain sports activities. When they do running or other Cardio exercise, they may encounter breathing difficulty, muscle or chest discomfort. In general, experts do not recommend overweight people participate in vigorous exercise. The reason is their body condition may not be able to handle it well. However, this should not be the reason to stop moving your feet. You still quite a number of choices to give your body a total workout. Slow jog or brisk walking is always highly recommended to the overweight people. You may first put yourself in calm and relax condition. Start with brisk walking. Put your arms into 90 degrees position and swing them to the back while you were walking. After one round or two of brisk walking, you may then start a slow jog. As your body had already been warmed up, you should be able to find yourself jogging without much difficulty. Another option is playing table tennis. Unlike tennis or badminton, table tennis does not required player to run over the field or wide area. This sport is more overweight people friendly, but yet still could give you a chance to have a great workout. If you find yourself started to get bored with jogging or table tennis, how about cycling' This is a great cardio workout which could help to burn off your excess calories. Be it riding around neighborhood area or in the park, cycling allows you to get closer to the nature and enjoy the sunshine. If you face difficulty to balance yourself with a bicycle, you can always consider riding a tricycle. In case you have friend or partner who love outdoor activities, you may also consider go for hiking. This is another great option to enjoy beautiful scenery while gives your body a total workout. Although overweight people may not suitable to do certain sports activities, but this should not be an excuse for you to keep being a couch potato. You should pick an exercise which suit you the best and maintain healthy lifestyle. [8] References 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity 2. http://ezinearticles.com/'A-Glance-on-Overweight-and-Obesity&id=4108159 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overweight 4. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/defining.html 5. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/ 6. http://www.neo-paleolithic-diet.com/ 7. http://www.medicaltourismco.com/medical-tourism/obesity-epidemic-in-the-west/ 8. http://www.seniorfitness.com/tutorials/Sports_For_Overweight_People_2104937_0_article.html