Why Shouldn't We Gain Weight?

About 60% of Bulgarians are overweight according to the Bulgarian Association for Obesity Research. We are catching up with Americans, 65% of whom, according to their Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are overweight.
According to calculations by the US Health Service, obesity among the population is a trend that develops over time in an arithmetic progression. While in the 1970s only 15% of people were overweight, in 2004 they were twice as many, 33%. This number doubles once again, but this time in an extremely shorter time, in 6 years.


And without definitions, we know what obesity is - the accumulation of too much fat around the waist, abdomen, hips. The weight that should be considered normal for a person, according to height and gender, is calculated in the Body Mass Index. When the BMI values ​​are up to 24, the weight is considered normal. Values ​​between 25 and 29.9 indicate the presence of overweight, and those above 30 indicate overweight or obesity.


Obesity is not just an aesthetic problem. Its presence also reflects on the self-esteem of the affected person, which is not insignificant for his mental state. The very state of health of overweight people is seriously impaired. They usually have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high heart rate, risk of diabetes.


However, doctors are even more detailed about the dangers of the disease. These are the facts that people know less about in general:
 

• Obesity increases the risk of developing some cancers

Researchers from the American National Cancer Institute conclude that breast cancer, postmenopausal cancer, colon, kidney, esophageal and uterine cancer are linked to obesity.
 

• Heart attacks at a younger age are due to obesity.

This is the cause of fatalities at a young age in recent years. Unfortunately, people between the ages of 15 and 34 already have a heart attack. Heart attacks have increased by 10% for men and by 32% for women in the last two decades.

• Overweight and overweight are the cause of early puberty in girls

In overweight girls, sexual scars do not develop as in others in the period 12-14 years. Breast and pubic hair in them is observed at the age of 8-9 years. However, the early onset of puberty, when a girl is still playing with dolls and needs parental caress, is the cause of serious emotional problems that often last a lifetime if left unattended.
 

• Obesity is a cause of diabetes in children

According to experts, childhood obesity is the reason for the increase in cases of type 2 diabetes after them. In this type of diabetes, the body is unable to synthesize enough insulin or it is not used effectively. It is estimated that in ten years this second type of diabetes will be much more common among children than type one, which was more typical in the past.

Most children with type 2 diabetes today are overweight. The disease usually manifests itself in middle to late adolescence. It is observed in children with limited physical activity, nutrition and heredity.

Weight loss, at least 5-10%, in obese children has a positive effect on health and returns the direction of the risk trend for type 2 diabetes. However, the weight reduction program should be established by a specialist.
 

• Obesity increases the risk of dementia

Middle-aged people who are overweight and obese are much more likely to show signs of senile dementia. According to Obesity Reviews, their risk of dementia is 42% higher and of Alzheimer's disease - 80%.
 

• With extra pounds, everyday life is harder

For obese people, daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, squatting, bending, etc., are much more labor-intensive, time-consuming and lead to fatigue. Due to the extra pounds and limited physical activity, the processes in the body deteriorate. This affects vitality and self-esteem in general. Not coincidentally, obese people are much more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, the cause of lethargy.

Delayed metabolic processes and overload of the body with residual metabolic products are the cause of more frequent and earlier manifestations of chronic diseases and osteoarthritis. In general, these people are more likely to get sick and suffer from the flu, which is also associated with frequent absences from work and the inability to take on family responsibilities.