Overweight and obesity consists of the excess or accumulation of fat in our body, which generates an abnormal or unhealthy weight gain according to the person’s height or age.
These excesses are counterproductive for the state of health, therefore, we can call these problems (which are seen mostly as a physical problem), a disease.
Because living in this state, will increasingly minimize the active moments in our lives, as it produces rapid fatigue, muscle aches and pains in joints such as knees.
But most importantly, this state can cause multiple cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, some cancers such as endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, kidney, colon and sometimes premature death in obese children.
But what causes obesity?
Mainly eating disorders: consuming a large amount of fat, sugars and high calories.
Coming from a family with overweight problems, as this can be hereditary.
The sedentary lifestyle and the lack of physical activity caused by technology, new ways of working at home, new means of transport and social changes, such as: a pandemic.
This is where an important issue comes in: quarantine and the side effects this may cause.
During the pandemic we have had to comply with isolation at home and changes in our daily lives: such as virtual work and study, the cancellation of plans, distancing ourselves from loved ones and economic changes.
This has also led to two main factors that can cause an increase in overweight: anxiety about eating and sedentary lifestyles.
Anxiety about living in a different situation, stress about changes and fear of the future can increase the desire to eat and continually whet the appetite.
On the other hand, sedentariness (spending more time at home) can be counterproductive to our physical condition that does not burn calories in the amounts we need.
What we are currently experiencing leads us to make a social call and a reminder to try to maintain habits that will not only help our physical condition but also our health.
According to the World Health Organization, it is important to limit energy intake from total fat and sugars, to increase consumption of vegetables, legumes, cereals and nuts.
It is also important to carry out regular physical activity: 60 minutes a day for young people and 150 minutes a week for adults.
Therefore, at South Florida Urgent Care we want to give you some tips that will help you stay more active and counteract the increase in calories:
- If you have anxiety problems and you have noticed that you are eating more often or in more quantity, make the decision to make a change and use an alarm to eat at the appropriate times. If you feel very hungry in between, try drinking a lot of water, fruits and nuts.
- Slowly decrease the amounts you have been eating in high calories, that is, if you used to eat six chocolates a day, go down to four, then three, then one, until you only eat it once in a while.
- Even if you’re at home, try to be active even if it’s only half an hour a day. For that, use videos on youtube, walk a bit, jump rope and dance a few minutes. Your body will burn calories and give you lots of energy for the rest of the day.
- Most importantly, look for activities that relax your mind. Stress will keep you in a bad state of mind, which will lead to a bad physical state: Read a book, play games, talk to people you love, meditate, listen to your favorite songs and give yourself some space.
Take care of yourself together.