Aware with your obesity

Many weight loss programs advertise the chance to “reshape” yourself and your life. But combating obesity could do more than reshape your life. It could save it.

Did you know that as your waistline grows, so do your chances of a medical related death? Yet most people who set out to lose weight do so in order to look better, rather than to live longer. Obesity is linked to many serious health concerns, and the fact that so many people are unaware should alarm you.

Perhaps the best weight loss program is to simply acknowledge the fact that your life could depend on a healthier lifestyle.

Perhaps the first step to “reshaping” your life is a few servings of information – regardless of how hard to swallow they may be.

According to recent statistics, approximately 67% of Canadian adults are overweight or obese. As if that weren’t drastic enough, the lifestyle habits of obesity are being passed down to the next generation. In the past 25 years, the percentage of children with obesity has tripled.

Because it is often associated with low self-esteem, obesity can be a sensitive topic. However, the reality of the obesity situation is that North America needs to take action now. The projected increase in obesity needs to be stopped, because the risks are extreme.

Obesity dramatically increases the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, mental illness, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and stroke.

In alarming addition, recent research has suggested that obesity increases the risk of certain types of cancer.

Despite all of these serious concerns, many people still believe the only reason to lose weight is to improve their appearance.

Obesity rates have been increasing for years, and they are not expected to slow down any time soon! It is easy to pinpoint the main reason for this: the North American obsession with convenience.

The typical North American lifestyle is a busy one. Our schedules are full, and our lives move quickly. Although fast food, fast transportation, and fast mindsets are beneficial to our schedules, they are detrimental to our health.

Our need to live a life of speed, regardless of the toll it takes on our heath, is undoubtedly contributing to the dangers of obesity.

Statistics show a recent decline in gym memberships, and a staggering increase in the video game market. We are putting personal entertainment as a higher priority than our own health. As a country we are becoming lazy.

The first step to combating obesity is becoming aware of the potentially deadly consequences. The second is to change your mindset.