When Size Really Does Matter
Obesity and weight-related health problems are the new epidemics in twenty-first century Ireland. Obesity is now almost as bad as cigarette smoking as a major preventable cause of premature death.
Obesity is defined as excess body fat. In men, body fat tends to accumulate particularly around the belly area and upper chest, which increases the chances of heart attack and stroke. In addition, the explosion of diabetes in recent years is directly related to the increase in the number of people suffering from obesity.
The amount of body fat you have and where it is distributed is very important for your health. What you weigh is less important than where that weight is distributed.
Some Scary Facts and Figures
- Over 60 per cent of Irish men are either overweight or obese.
- About two-fifths of Irish men are overweight and one-quarter of Irish men are obese.
- The trend towards obesity is increasing and it is estimated that by the year 2050 up to 60 per cent of Irish men may be obese.
Apples and Pears
Did you know that the shape of your body can be directly related to your
later risk of ill-health? Pear-shaped people tend to store fat around their hips and thighs while apple-shaped people store fat around their bellies. This apple shape, known as central obesity, increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and ill health. Big bellies beware!
What Are the Health Consequences of Being Overweight or Obese?
Obesity is associated with a whole range of physical conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gall stones, hernia, varicose veins and several cancers, including bowel cancer. In addition, obesity may be associated with a range of psychological issues, including low selfesteem, poor body image and depression.
What Causes Obesity?
In the vast majority of cases, being overweight or obese is due to a simple mismatch between the amount of energy consumed, in the form of food and beverages, and the amount of energy medstore canada expended, in the form of exercise. A typical adult male requires 2,000-2,500 calories a day, depending on age. The calorie requirements get lower as we get older. It is believed that 1 pound of fat equates to about 3,000 excess calories.
For many men the increased demands of work, career and family life mean that exercise habits and sporting interests often keenly pursued during the teens and early twenties get put to one side. The result is that much less energy is burned up. The sedentary lifestyle of modern living can mean hours in the car and sitting watching television with no opportunity to burn calories. Combine this with a high-fat diet of large portions and lots of processed food and the effects can be lethal. Even subtle lifestyle changes over time can lead to a net gain in terms of calories consumed. These excess calories are stored in the body as fat. A small increase in calorie intake (food or drink) combined with a small reduction in activity or exercise levels leads to net weight gain over time.