Weight Problems: Are you struggling with weight?
Weight is a sensitive topic for most people. Because most people tend to associate weight with personality. This leads to bullying causing low self-esteem and confidence. But on the other side, the weight indicates much more than just appearance.
Weight can indicate some severe underlying conditions that can damage health in the long run. Not only being overweight but also underweight are both equally alarming. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a bodyweight measuring tool that depicts the weight range of being underweight, normal, or overweight. Therefore, it looks like this:
| BMI | Weight Status |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 or higher | Obesity |
Now, let us consider different weight problems and their causes and solutions.
Obesity or Overweight
There are different misconceptions about being overweight. Also, many people believe that being overweight just limits eating more or being lazy. But there is much more in the bigger picture. Being overweight or obese can indicate other underlying problems. So, people with a BMI of 25 or more are considered overweight and obese.
Fat accumulation takes place when the body is consuming more calories than it is burning. So, when someone has a sedentary lifestyle or desk job, they are unable to burn calories and rather consume more. There are more reasons that can cause obesity.
Causes of Obesity:
- Fast and processed food
- High-calorie Sugary drinks
- Eating disorders like food addiction
- Psychological factors like stress eating
- Hormonal imbalance or problems like PCOS, or thyroid
- Metabolism disorders
- Genetics
- Insulin
- Leptin Resistance
- Social and economic factors
- Certain medications
Obesity is not just limited to weight gain. But it also increases the risk of severe health complications which include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Anxiety and depression
- Shame and guilt
- Digestive problems
- Sleeping disorders
- Liver and kidney problems
- Osteoarthritis
Obesity Treatment
Treatment will depend on your complete health condition. Your doctor will ask about your health history and other weight changes. Therefore, treatment for everyone will be different. Also, if obesity is causing any severe health condition or vice versa, then the treatment will be decided concerning the health condition.
Moreover, one will need to make lifestyle changes like being active, consuming fewer calories than burning, stress management, and much more. Moreover, in the case of eating disorders, behavioral therapies are helpful.
If these treatments do not work, your doctor will also give you medications like Phentermine. It is a medication that reduces appetite and helps with weight loss. You can buy Phentermine online with a prescription through Rite Aid Pharmacy, a reliable online store.
Why is being Underweight harmful?
With the negativity around being obese, some people fear eating food. Also, some want to lose all the fat. All these reasons can also lead to eating disorders or other problems like anorexia. Because people do not see being extremely skinny as a problem. So, people either avoid food or do extraneous exercise to be on the minimum numbers on the weight scale. Talking about numbers, you can see from the above table that people with BMI under 18.5 are underweight.
But not everyone has the same problems. Some people may have other disorders that make them underweight. Therefore, the causes of being underweight are
- High physical activity
- Genetics or Family History
- Physical illness
- Medicines
- Psychological illness
- Eating phobia or disorder
- High metabolism
Risk factors for underweight:
Being underweight can attract a lot of health problems. So, the risk factors are
- Weak immune system
- Anemia
- Irregular periods
- Osteoporosis
- Hair loss, skin and teeth problems
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Slow growth and development
- Weak bones
Treatment for Underweight
Underweight people not only have less weight but also low nutrition in the body. So, one can improve their weight and overall health by
- Add healthy calories
- Eating nutrient-dense foods
- Making snack time healthy and fun
- Avoid empty calories
- Trying strength training like weight lifting or yoga
- Eating small meals several times a day
- Introduce calorie-dense foods
If these tricks do not work or a person has an extremely poor appetite or other symptoms. Then, it is best to contact a doctor. Because it can be due to some serious health problem.
Last Words
Managing weight can be difficult for both overweight and underweight people. One needs to maintain a good relationship with food. This also helps to get a positive view towards food and one eats with gratitude and satisfaction.
Also, one must remember that a person’s body does not reflect them. So, one should start introducing the concept of self-love and accept their body rather than hating them. This may sound unachievable for some but remember it is not impossible. Loving your body can take time but start taking baby steps. Remember one can love their body and still work on changing it.