Obesity, its causes and effects on the Complete Body

Holistic Health and Wellness is concerned about the way Obesity affects the Complete Body and its systems. Some see it as just simply being grossly overweight, fat or having a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25. In Australia a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered normal. Above 30 is considered obese. The causes are numerous and quite complex.

WARNING! Excessive Fat is dangerous to your health. I know you've heard all that before but it really is, and for a number of reasons, such as
Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Pulmonary disease, Type 2 Diabetes and some forms of cancer. It places extra load on the heart, forcing it to pump blood much further through the Vascular System. The average lean body has approximately 97,000 kilometers of blood vessels - for each kilogram of fat an extra 650 kilometers of blood vessels are required. Imagine how much extra strain that puts on the heart.

There are several things which lead to being overweight. Some are Physical, some are Mental and others are Medical.

Physical Causes Include:

Lack of exercise and overeating are probably the most common causes. Eating the wrong type of food is more than likely the number one cause. Fast food - take-out especially. Human nature is funny. The first word we learn as an infant is NO. when someone tries to sell us something our first response is "No", yet when we go the the fast food outlet why is it so difficult, when the order taker asks "Would you like that upsized?", to say "NO"?

Don't blame yourself or feel guilty. We are the victims of clever marketing. The marketers take advantage of our feelings and emotions. Of course you are feeling hungry when you order your meal or you wouldn't be there in the first place. So you say "yes" when asked if you want to "upsize". What you need to do when asked if you want that upsized, is apply the question to your waistline. "Do I want my waistline upsized?" The answer is obvious and easy, "No"

Beware of ordering a take out meal followed by a "Diet Coke" that is a fallacy. Soda Pop containing artificial sweeteners (not to be confused with Stevia which is a natural sweetener) will actually make you fat. The artificial sweeteners act on Cholesterol Receptors in the body preventing fat from being metabolised. So it is stored as fat, usually where you don't want it! - Around the middle.

Having a Sedentary Job or leading a "Couch Potato" lifestyle is another Physical Cause of being overweight.