Overcome obesity | the-green-life

Are you ready to take charge of your weight? 6 key barriers to weight loss

Excess weight and obesity has been linked to poor self-esteem, poor quality of life and increase risk of death. It is the second leading cause of preventable death in United States. Increase body mass index (BMI) has been associated with almost all chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

More than one third (78 million) of adults in the U.S. are obese. There are different types of obesity. Type 1 Obesity is caused by lifestyle and type 2 is caused by an underlying disease such as thyroid hormone or cortisol hormone dysfunction. An individual can have both lifestyle and hormonal imbalance at the same time as well. Obesity is also classified as abdominal or limb based obesity depending on the area of accumulation of fat. Abdominal obesity with an apple belly or increased waist size is more closely related to development of diabetes and heart disease.

Many individuals try different diets and exercise regimens to reduce weight but find it difficult to achieve their goals. Others find that they are unable to sustain their weight loss. Some feel that they continue to gain weight despite not eating much. Both men and women find it harder to maintain their weight as they grow older. Many suffer from emotional eating where they get food cravings including cravings for sweets or fatty foods which make it difficult for them to lose weight.

Losing weight is both a science and an art. The key to losing weight and sustaining weight loss lies in our ability to understand the root cause of our weight gain. Until and unless we can identify the potential variables that are initiating and perpetuating the weight gain, we will have difficulty losing weight and sustaining weight loss.

The 6 key barriers to weight loss are

Hormonal imbalance: There are many different hormones that effect weight such as cortisol and thyroid hormones. Cortisol excess causes accumulation of belly fat. Thyroid plays a key role in regulating the pace of body metabolism. The hormone leptin effects our appetite. Sex hormones play an important role in obesity.
Food Sensitivity: Each one of us is unique in how our body reacts to certain foods. Hence it is important to identify foods that we are sensitive to and our bodies respond to these foods by causing weight gain.
Inflammation: This is a key factor in obesity. Inflammation in any part of the body causes increase in cortisol and weight gain. People with inflammation often have gut issues, muscle and joint aches and pains and brain fog.
Gut (Intestinal) bacteria: Research shows that our gut bacteria play an important role in obesity. In an experiment, researchers identified 4 twin pairs, one of the twins was obese and the other was lean. They fed mice with the fecal material of the obese twins and the mice became obese. When they repeated the same experiment with the fecal material from the thin twins, the mice remained thin. We now know that the gut bacterial composition of those who are obese is different than those who are lean.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are needed by the body for adequate utilization of the food that we eat. Research has shown that obese individuals have a high rate of micronutrient deficiencies compared to lean individuals. In addition, studies have shown an association between weight loss and micronutrient supplementation in specific populations indicating the role of micronutrient deficiencies in causing obesity.
Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides, phthalates, bisphenol and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic has been associated with obesity as well as diabetes.

Weight loss is achievable. The earlier we start the easier it is to achieve the goal. A lot of your friends and family members are trying to acheive reduce weight. Share this blog with them. Working together with friends and family to acheive a common goal is fun and motivating. Take control of your weight today. Identify the cause and work towards removing it.

When Health is Absent,

Wisdom cannot reveal itself,

Art cannot become manifest,

Strength cannot be exerted,

Wealth is useless,

and Reason is powerless."

- Herophiles, 300 B.C.-

Food Sensitivity: Each one of us is unique in how our body reacts to certain foods. Hence it is important to identify foods that we are sensitive to and our bodies respond to these foods by causing weight gain.

Inflammation: This is a key factor in obesity. Inflammation in any part of the body causes increase in cortisol and weight gain. People with inflammation often have gut issues, muscle and joint aches and pains and brain fog.

Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides, phthalates, bisphenol and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic has been associated with obesity as well as diabetes.