One of the world’s biggest and most dangerous pandemics is that of obesity. It is the first time that a non-infectious disease has been classed as a pandemic since records began. This does mean that managing obesity is now a priority for health departments across the world, not in the least because the obese are becoming increasingly young.
Some Data
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50% of people in this country is now overweight. 25% is obese. Unfortunately, these numbers are growing and they are no longer a problem solely for our country. While Europe fares better, 30% are overweight and 12% are obese. Even in France, a country known for its amazing diet, obesity rates are rising at alarming rates.
What Is Obesity?
Someone is classed as obese when they have excess fat. This is generally measured through the BMI, which is now accepted as an international standard. When someone is obese, they are at an increased risk of developing various illnesses and disease.
There are many reasons as to why the rates of obesity are rising so quickly. Genes play a big part, as does lifestyle. Furthermore, it is now more difficult not to become obese, as we are confronted with too much snack food, junk food and processed food. Economic status also seems to play a part in the likelihood of developing obesity, with poorer communities having a bigger risk. This is believed to be because junk food is cheaper.
While many people like to say that their genes play the biggest role, this is not actually true. It is certainly true that children of obese parents have an 80% chance of becoming obese themselves. This is not, however, because of genes but rather because the children pick up their parents’ unhealthy habits and lifestyle choices. People seem to like to blame genes, because it would mean there is nothing that they can do about the condition, which is simply untrue.
What Can Be Done?
Unfortunately, all that can be done is making a conscious choice to change your lifestyle. In order to achieve a healthy weight, you must eat less and move more. It is important that it is a combination of both factors, as using just one will not produce any results. Naturally, there is now also the option of having some type of gastric surgery. If you research Reshape balloon surgery cost, you will find that it is not only quite affordable, but also that your insurance company may actually cover you for it.
This does not, however, mean that surgery is the perfect solution to help you lose weight. The only way for surgery to be successful is if you are also committed to eating less and moving more. You will, when applying for the procedure, be thoroughly checked to make sure you are in the right frame of mind to make the necessary changes to your lifestyle. Without that frame of mind, you will not be able to achieve any kind of sustainable results.