Fighting Obesity

I have been fighting obesity off and on in my entire life and it is never easy. Staying in good health is a big challenge for many people.

For those who are dealing with obesity or being overweight, understand it is not your fault. We think it is because people have a problem with overeating which causes excessive body weight. However, it goes way beyond controlling food portions. I have dealt with food addiction before and, at times, I felt helpless. Then I realized I was dealing with a serious addiction.

The sad thing is, there are kids at school who are being bullied for being overweight. The worst part is those who tease other kids for being overweight do not understand the person they are tormenting is dealing with a disease.

The real villain behind obesity is our brain. Food addiction can trick our minds by lying to us about not being full. According to television talk show host Oprah Winfrey, obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower — it's about the brain.

Winfrey also said, 2 billion adults in the world population are either overweight or obese and it is estimated, by 2035, this number will reach half the world.

According to a CNN Health News Report, more than 1 billion children, adolescents, and adults live with obesity around the world, making it the most common form of malnutrition in many countries. CNN health analysis estimates about nearly 880 million adults and 159 million children will live with obesity in 2022. Obesity rates among children and adolescents worldwide increased fourfold from 1990 to 2022 while obesity rates among adults more than doubled.

Healthline.com reported, “Obesity and its impact on the brain have been studied for years, but new research shows how weight gain may impact the brain itself. What this means is the additives and preservatives in the foods we eat play tricks on our brains and the brain tells us to eat more.”

Many people think there is no hope of weight loss. I am here to tell you there is hope. Weight loss starts with you. It's about doing it on your terms. Here are some tips on how you can fight obesity.

Lose weight because you want to not because you feel you have to.

Sadly, people have been pressured to lose weight because of fear of losing a girlfriend or boyfriend. Some men and women have a fear their spouse wants to leave them because of their weight. Those fears should not be in your way. The key to weight loss is do it because you want to and not because you feel you have to. Doing it on your terms makes it easy for you without being pressured.

Meet with a Doctor

If you are serious about wanting to lose weight and you are not being pressured, it is best to meet with a doctor and they can help you with your weight issues. Chances are your doctor can give you the right medication.

Talk to a nutritionist

There are nutrition experts who can help you with your weight loss goals. They can help you with healthy food options. They can also help you plan your meals and you can decide which meals work the best for you.

Make plans for yourself.

If you are in a position where you are not being pressured to lose weight, take the time to make plans on what will work best for you. Ask yourself why you want to lose weight. Is it because you want to live a long life? Do you want to feel healthy? Do you want to have more energy and be active?

Check your blood pressure daily

It is best if you check your blood pressure every day. You can still lose weight and still get high blood pressure. This is why it is also important to meet with a doctor regularly if you are dealing with high or low blood pressure. When you lose weight it makes it easy for the doctor to determine which would be the right medication.. Checking your blood pressure daily will help prevent you from getting either a heart attack or stroke.

Check your blood sugar daily

Whether you're overweight or not, checking your blood sugar is important. High blood sugar can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and even death. You are never too old or too young to check your blood sugar. For parents who have kids dealing with being overweight, it is good to make sure they get their blood sugar checked. Checking your children's blood sugar can help prevent them from getting diabetes or at least reduce their chances.

Daily walks, bike rides, and swimming.

After a meal, it is best to go for a walk. Going for daily walks can also help you lose weight and digest your food better. Bike riding and swimming is another good way to burn calories. Each time you bike ride or swim, it gets your heart pumping and kills fat.

Cut down on your carbs

Carbohydrates can be your worst enemy when you are dealing with high blood sugar levels. As much as I love my bread, I know I have to cut down on the amount of carbohydrates I eat each day. Carbohydrates are dangerous when it comes to high blood sugar. It can increase your blood sugar even higher if you do not limit your carbs. Losing weight is never easy, but if you take it seriously and set your goals, you can do it.