Excess weight and premature death

Excess weight (that is, both overweight and obesity) predisposes to suffer premature death, mainly due to the different consequences it produces, especially the decrease in life expectancy.

An increasing number of health specialists (and the different institutions and related administrations) are aware of the problem that, as of today, involves both the overweight as the obesity.

That is why they have been considered as the epidemic of the 21st century: hundreds of thousands of cases are diagnosed every year throughout the world, thus becoming a real global health problem.

If we refer to new scientific studies recently published in the edition New England Journal of Medicine, the alarm is even greater, especially if we take into account that recent work has shown that even a minimal overweight can lead to a early death, so that more than an aesthetic issue, excess weight, however minimal, becomes a real health problem.

Between the Consequences of obesity More serious we find that excess weight predisposes to suffer serious metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol and triglycerides.

In the particular case of cardiovascular diseases, obesity is a clear cause that predisposes to suffer them, especially because excess weight causes an increase in blood pressure and both cholesterol and triglycerides.

The arterial hypertension, as you surely know, consists in the increase of blood pressure levels, which is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. When we suffer from hypertension, it means that the pressure that the heart exerts on the arteries is very high, assuming a greater resistance for the heart and producing an overexertion.

In addition, we should not forget that excess weight causes an accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, which is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

In the case of diabetes we are facing an illness, chronic and serious, which appears in most cases of overweight and obesity. It is known that there is a much greater risk of developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (also known medically as type 2 diabetes), when the Body Mass Index is higher, especially in those who have a family history of diabetes.

But overweight can also be a cause, even when obesity figures have not been reached, which suppose a Body Mass Index of 30.

But scholars highlight the reduction in life expectancy, since the obese person has more health problems, which can ultimately translate into premature death as a result of cardiovascular and metabolic related disorders.

How to prevent excess weight?

Actually it is very simple, since it is mainly the most appropriate to follow a healthy lifestyle, based on the follow-up of a balanced and varied diet (rich in healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, white meat and nuts), exercise regularly and get away from habits such as smoking and alcohol.

However, here are some simple tips to follow and useful precisely to get away from both overweight and obesity:

Follow a natural, balanced and healthy diet: As indicated above, it is essential that you follow a healthy and balanced diet, opting for fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and nuts.
Practice physical exercise: On a regular basis, if possible every day or at least every 2 days, for 30 to 40 minutes.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco: Both unhealthy habits are a risk to the health of the heart and health in general, and also promote excess weight.

Unlike what is thought, it is not at all advisable to follow a strict diet, and to make a change in the lifestyle that is not only food, but also in life habits. This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesObesity