Obesity – Why it should concern us

Obesity is becoming a growing concern in India. Recently Metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai have been added to the list of cities where more than half the population is either overweight or obese. The saddest part is that most people who suffer from this disease are either unaware of it or are living in denial. More and more children are now being reported obese which only proves that in our aim to ape the west we are not only neglecting our health but also increasing our chances of an unhealthy and problem filled adult life. We are unaware of the grave consequences consuming junk food and not exercising regularly have and as a result are becoming more susceptible to  of different aliments that can be directly linked to our weight.Obesity can be calculated through a person’s body mass index (BMI). The body mass index or Quetelet index is a heuristic method of calculating body fat bases on an individual’s weight and height. It can be defined as the individual’s body mass divided by the square of his or her weight. BMI charts are available easily online and help you understand under which category you fall. If the number you get on calculation using your weight and height lies below 18.5 then you are considered to be underweight. If it lies anywhere between 18.5 and 25 you are normal, if between 25 and 30 you are overweight and beyond 30 is considered obese. Obesity can increase the risk of developing serious and potentially lethal healthy problems like hypertension, blood pressure, non insulin dependent or type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It can also cause congestive heart failure, gout, osteoarthritis, and complications during pregnancy, poor female reproductive health, bladder control problems and certain types of cancer like prostate, breast and colon cancer. It is also known to be the cause of psychological disorders such as depression, eating disorder like anorexia and bulimia, distorted body image and low self esteem. There are also other gender specific health risks among men and women. If a woman’s waist circumference is larger than 35 inches she is known to have high amounts of visceral fat. This fat surrounds the organs and is associated with serious diseases like liver disease and heart disease. Obese men are more likely to die from colon, rectum or prostate cancer when compared to non obese men. They are also more likely to suffer from sleep apnea which is known to cause strokes and heart attacks. Care must be taken to ensure you get regular exercise and follow a low calorie well balanced diet to keep obesity at bay. There are five key ingredients to a well balanced meal; carbohydrates, proteins, fruits and vegetables, dairy products and calcium, and good fats. These must be included in all meals in the right proportion.A good option for working men and women who have little time to exercise and always prepare and eat healthy meals is health supplements. These health supplements should have two key ingredients; DHA and whey protein. DHA is a super nutrient and helps you lose weight or maintain ideal weight while offsetting the stress factors associated with being over weight.  Whey protein influences food intake; it makes you feel full faster and aids digestion. When taken together, these two ingredients promote feelings of fullness and reduce appetite which helps you limit your calorie intake. Hexagon’s Obesigo is one such product that contains these two essential ingredients.