subject: 5 Reasons It's Important For You To Consider Losing Weight Now [print this page] Too many Americans are overweight right now, today. The advent of fast food over the last forty years has been a contributing factor. Add in the increased pace of our everyday living and you have the makings of an overweight society. And people wonder why the cost of health care is so high. Carrying around excess weight seriously compromises you body's ability to stay healthy.
The following is a brief description of five of the worst side effects of being overweight. Think about how you would feel day in and day out carrying around a ten pound weight. And that's only ten extra pounds. The strain and stress on your heart, your lungs and your skeleton is enormous. When you see a list like this it might persuade you that now is the time to start losing those unwanted, unhealthy pounds.
Cancer
Nobody really understands the link between being overweight and certain types of cancer but there does appear to be some kind of connection. Post menopausal women who gain a few extra pounds seem more susceptible to breast cancer in their later years. Overweight women are also at a high risk for endometrial cancer and the heavier you are the more likely your are to die from these cancers.
Diabetes
There probably isn't a person out there who hasn't heard that carrying those extra love handles around is a major cause of Type 2 diabetes. Some time ago it seemed the epidemic was with overweight adults but with today's sedentary lifestyle among children who watch TV, play video games and surf the web the problem is becoming increasingly a childhood disease. Taking off pounds and inches from around your waist seems to be key in improving the body's blood glucose levels.
Heart Disease
The more weight you carry the harder your heart has to work to get the blood circulating. One can well imagine that this cannot be good. Of course our lives depend on our heart. If it is overworked for any number of years it may give out. Almost 70% of people diagnosed with heart disease are overweight. It's no wonder. Losing just a small percentage of your total body weight increases your odds of avoiding heart disease.
Respiratory Problems
Anyone who has put on some weight will tell you it isn't easy to climb stairs or chase after a small child without being winded. The lungs are no longer able to work the way they were designed. Another huge problem overweight people suffer from is sleep apnea, a severe form of snoring. In fact, those with sleep apnea will often stop breathing for short periods of time. Some never breathe again. Sleep apnea interferes with getting a good night's sleep leaving some to fall asleep during the day, even while driving.
Psychological Effects
It may be difficult for a person who does not have a weight problem to relate to the vast majority who do. Being overweight causes emotional suffering. Overweight people have issues in the workplace as well as socially. When we look at an obese person many of us assume they eat too much and are extremely lazy. Otherwise, they wouldn't have let their body go like that. This results in feelings of shame, rejection and depression. How many models on the front cover of your favorite magazines are even a little bit overweight? Americans especially associate being thin with being attractive. The flip side of this is that overweight people are not attractive. That can be a heavy burden to live with.
If you carry around a few extra pounds and the likelihood of getting these diseases doesn't affect you it should. Your life could be snuffed out in an instant. Explain to your children why you don't care enough about them to start eating healthy and exercising. They just might join you and share in the experience of a healthier you.
by: Brenda Simard
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