___________________________________________________________________
| ||||||||||
Many people regard a bulging tummy as a natural development as one grows old. But the hard truth is that extra fat is a clear sign of being overweight or obese. Projections by the World Health Organization indicate that at least one in three of the world's adult population is overweight and almost one in 10 is obese. Additionally there are over 20 million children under the age of five who are overweight. Being overweight or obese leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon). What is not widely known is that the risk of health problems starts even when someone is only very slightly overweight, and that the likelihood of problems increases as someone becomes more and more overweight (see Pot Bellies Linked to Heart Disease). Overweight and obesity are largely preventable. And if you are now lugging around extra fat, remember it's never too late to start working on getting rid of the excess baggage. The key to success is to achieve an energy balance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories used on the other hand. It's as simple as that. You do the math. If you consume 3,000 calories but only use up 1,000 calories, that leaves 2,000 calories lying around somewhere in your body. And where do these extra 2,000 calories go? They usually end up as fat around the waist. But if you strike a balance between calories consumed and calories used, that leaves your body performing at its optimum best. Needless to say, your body will never become overweight or obese. To reach this goal, people need to limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats; increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and limit their intake of sugars. And to increase calories used, people can boost their levels of physical activity - to at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. So make a resolution today to exercise regularly and to eat the right foods. That's the only way to get a flat stomach. |
|
|
