Obesity

Obesity is different from overweight. All who are obese are overweight but all those who are overweight are not necessarily obese.  A person can be overweight without being obese when the extra body weight is largely made up of muscles. And a person is considered obese when he/she carries extra loads of fat in various parts of the body. For more information on obesity and overweight, visit WHO and CDC.

Obesity and osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is among the leading debilitating and currently irreversible diseases caused by obesity. Details of this disease and its prevention are discussed under Knee Osteoarthritis in this website.

How do people become obese?

Only a very small percentage of people become obese because of medical conditions. Others become obese mostly because of their wrong food habits and insufficient physical exercise. Although it is a known fact that some people are prone to gain body weight, that should not be an excuse to let the body take you for a ride.

A cousin of mine, who was obese told me once, “I do know that over-eating is the cause of my obesity, but when I consider the immense pleasure that I derive from eating, I think I can do with obesity“. Lo, that was sad. I wish you wouldn’t want to succumb to this temptation! Over-eating is also a displacement activity of some people who are worried/depressed. Some eat less and become thin when depressed, but some others eat more and become obese.

Mothers and ‘left-over’ food

Mothers end up the dustbin of the kitchen. It is true that one should not waste food, but that does not mean all the left-over food must end up in your stomach, dear mother. One mother, who was exceedingly overweight was emphatic that she made hardly any food for herself, and mostly ate the food left over by her son. And she made it a point to make a superabundance of left-over food.

How to control obesity?

The key to managing your body weight is  in your hands. Do not keep inventing excuses to continue to remain obese.

You will succeed in controlling your obesity without side effects if you start doing what is said here, diligently.

  1. Avoid eating fried items, fats and pastry/bakery items.

  2. Avoid chips and other snacks that are prepared using oil.

  3. Minimise consumption of preserved softdrinks.

  4. Chew your food well.

  5. Learn to say “Enough!” before you feel you are full, unless you are not sure when you will get your next meal. 🙂

  6. Do not skip meals in order to lose weight (You are likely to compensate for it by overeating during subsequent meals)

  7. Avoid frequent snacking in-between meals.

Hara hachi bu is what the Okinawan Japanese do when it comes to eating. It means ‘Eat only until you are 80 percent full’. Their diet preference is vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and some lean meat. They are reported to be remaining lean and healthy. Click here for more information on this.

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Click below to visit some other subheads of our website that are related to your body.

Body Mass Index    Underweight    Anorexia    Personal Hygiene


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