Obesity

 Print This Post

29.     Good health is seldom an accident – it has to be worked at and requires lifelong commitment, knowledge and above all discipline. There are no shortcuts and it can be extremely challenging in today’s social environment. To make a start for weight loss, only minor adjustments may be needed. Begin eating natural bio-energetic whole foods that are in harmony with your longstanding genetic pre-disposition to food and avoid junk food. A diet consisting of a variety of natural foods, adequate calories and rich in fresh fruits, raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, wholegrains and sprouts, is both a source of high quality fuel, and a positive feedback loop of hormonal modulators of mood, abundant energy and mental activity.

OBESITY CAUSING FACTORS

Surplus Calorie Intake

30.     “You are what you eat” slogan can very appropriately be linked to obesity. It is obvious that the basic cause of obesity is surplus calorie intake. If your intake of calories is in excess of what your body burns to meet its needs, then the surplus calories are converted into fat to promote weight gain. You can’t get away from this basic law of physics. With cheap energy-dense foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and sedentary lifestyle at work and at home, obesity is rapidly becoming a consequence of modern life and the world is sleepwalking into a disaster. Hence it is very important to always keep in mind that despite the other obesity causing factors listed below your diet is singularly an overriding factor.

 Junk Food

31.     Changes in our diet, coupled with stress-filled lives, more sedentary modern existence and lack of exercise are taking their toll on health and have increased globesity to unprecedented levels. Consuming wrong and faulty foods is a primary cause of obesity. There has been considerable decrease in the consumption of simple and traditional high fibre, low-fat whole foods (like dal / roti, unpolished brown rice, vegetables, fruits, nuts) in the last 3-4 decades. Modern replacement diets characteristically comprise, low-fibre, high-energy, fat-rich, low-nutrient, low-grade junk foods such as refined and processed foods laden with saturated / transfats, sugar, salt, starch and chemical additives, preservatives, flavourings, colourings and stabilisers etc. etc. Junk fast foods include pizzas, noodles, burgers, French fries, ice cream etc, which are universally available. Chhole Bhature, puri, potato tikkies, samosas, pakoras, papri chat etc. are Indian fast food junkies. There are other feel-good, weight promoting culprits like chocolates, cakes, pastries, aerated drinks and colas, confectionery etc. High insulin secretion in response to junk foods promotes fat deposition and weight gain.