Amaury Hernández

Weight Problem - Obesity Hazards

Anyone who is more than 20 percent over the expected average weight for his or her age, sex, and height should discuss weight loss and dieting with a physician. Sudden weight changes may cause extreme fatigue and exhaustion. Crash diets can be dangerous and may lead to vitamin deficiency diseases.

Yes. Overweight people are at greater risk for coronary thrombosis and strokes because of arteriosclerosis. Such people are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus; hurt themselves seriously in accidents; develop osteoarthritis, particularly of the knees, hips, and ankles; and have more complications following surgery, such as venous thrombosis and chest infections.

Question: How should an obese person lose weight?

A gradual reduction in the amount of food eaten can result in a weight loss of 2 to 3 pounds a week, an overall loss of 10 pounds a month. The physician will probably recommend fewer carbohydrate foods, alcohol, and wheat products, and more high-protein foods and fresh salads.

Regular exercise is of value because it increases the body's metabolic rate and gives the person a sense of well-being and relative freedom from fatigue. In addition, diets usually cause equal weight loss from body fat and muscle. Exercise will increase the proportion of weight loss from body fat and will help protect the muscles.

Once a satisfactory weight has been achieved, there can be a slight relaxation in the detail of the diet so that the proper weight is maintained. It is, however, essential to keep to the same basic diet for life to avoid a return to the original eating habits that caused obesity.

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