1 Billion Adults Now Overweight. Tips To Lose Weight & Get Healthy

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Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight - at least 300 million of them clinically obese.

Obesity and being overweight pose a major risk for those with serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer. The health consequences range from increased risk of early death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Of special concern is the increasing incidence of obesity with children.

Childhood obesity is already an epidemic in some areas and on the rise in others. An estimated 22 million children under five are estimated to be overweight worldwide. According to the US Surgeon General, in the USA the number of overweight children has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled since 1980.

As adults, to limit our human possibilities with obesity is one thing, but even worse, is to limit the potential of young children with the burdens that being overweight brings. What can we do about this problem, that only continues to get worse as the years progress? How can we help everyone, children and adults alike, and create a slimmer, healthier America in 30 years to come?

Why is this happening?

The rising epidemic reflects the profound changes in society and in behavioral patterns of communities over recent decades. While genes are important in determining a person's susceptibility to weight gain, energy balance is determined by calorie intake and physical activity. Thus societal changes and worldwide nutrition transition are driving the obesity epidemic. Economic growth, modernization, urbanization and globalization of food markets are just some of the forces thought to underlie the epidemic.
 
As incomes rise and populations become more urban, diets high in complex carbohydrates give way to more varied diets with a higher proportion of simple carbohydrates, saturated fats and sugars. At the same time, large shifts towards less physically demanding work have been observed worldwide. Moves towards less physical activity are also found in the increasing use of automated transport, technology in the home, and more passive leisure pursuits.

The chart to the left gives percentages of the obese in each country.

Some Simple Things You Can Do to Lose Weight & Get Healthy

To lose weight and become healthy, one needs to change and transform their lifestyle into one that encourages health. If one is overweight right now, something in the lifestyle is faulty. People are apt to change their lifestyles permanently every day in different arenas such as in relationships, living locations, career, religion, family, etc. If it can be changed in one area with relative ease, there is a great chance that it can also be changed in the area of food and exercise quite easily. What bigger motivator does one have to become healthy, then the prospects of being slim, strong, younger, disease-free, and able to live life to it's fullest capacity.

EAT MORE RAW FOOD An absolute guaranteed way of losing weight is eating more raw foods. Many follow a raw food diet (eating more than 70% raw foods) This is more than just a diet though, it is a complete lifestyle change, a spiritual undertaking, and a hobby. A raw diet will make you lose weight because raw plants are low in calories, high in nutrients, they stimulate the metabolism, and raw foodists tend to eliminate such foods as dairy and bread which contribute to weight gain. View before and afters here. The inspirational Angela Stokes lost 160 lbs on the raw food diet here.

EAT A BIG BREAKFAST Research suggests that having a big breakfast will help keep your appetite in check all day and help you lose weight. It's interesting to note that 80% of the people who are overweight eat a small breakfast or none at all. The Japanese are the healthiest (and skinniest) people and breakfast for them is the biggest meal of the day. Therefore, don't hold back for fear of weight gain, indulge in a big, healthy breakfast.

EAT REAL FOOD-AVOID HUMAN MADE Eat real food, not human made, adulterated, and packaged "food". Most "diet food" and packaged foods actually make you gain weight because they're loaded in sugar and additives. Avoid all, "fat free," "low fat," "diet, etc. Companies are making a profit off of overweight people, but mother nature has a way of always knowing best. Avoid most everything that is sold in a package. Indulge freely in foods that are packaged in mother natures package. These foods will make you lose weight if they are a majority of your diet, even if they are high calorie and high fat such as coconuts and avocados. Ultimately, losing weight boils down to which section of the grocery store you shop.

BREASTFEED (if you're a woman) the latest study on the subject suggests that women who breastfeed have reduced amounts of abdominal fat. The study found that middle-age women who consistently breastfed their children had waist circumferences that were an average of 2.6 inches smaller than women who had never breastfed.
In addition, studies have found that children who were breastfed extensively as babies were less likely to put on weight later in life. Breastfed children are 20 to 45 percent less likely to be obese than children who were never breastfed.

GET ADEQUATE VITAMIN D Vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity, but it is not clear if inadequate vitamin D causes obesity or the other way around. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota found that overweight people have better success in losing weight when their vitamin D levels are increased.

USE APPLES & APPLE CIDER VINEGAR apples are low in calories and high in fiber. They are also full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that increase vitality and energy. Even more important than that for the dieter is the fact that apples are delicious and satisfying. They are low on the glycemic index. Eat an apple before every meal and you will lose weight.

SHOP AT THE FARMERS MARKET Not only will this support local farmers, get you more in touch with where your food comes from, but it will also help you become healthier and lose weight. High levels of fruits, vegetables, greens and beans help you lose weight because they are low in calories, high in volume and high in critically important nutrients. There is a growing body of evidence that shows that plant-based foods help to control food cravings and overeating. The average American diet is roughly 8% fruits, vegetables and beans.

GET SUFFICIENT CHROMIUM 90% of people are deficient in chromium. Some benefits of chromium include its ability to keep the body metabolism healthy. The most common usage for chromium is as a weight loss aid; it can melt fat, and drastically reduce appetite. Improved carbohydrate and fat metabolism is a major function of chromium, which can help with proper weight management and weight loss. Chromium deficiency can result in diabetes, depression, weight gain, and many other disorders and diseases. Be sure to get enough of this important mineral.

CUT OUT SUGAR Americans are consuming 22 teaspoons (teens: 34 teaspoons) of added sugar a day when it should be no more than 6 teaspoons. Ideally zero. sugar raises blood sugar quickly. When eaten it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a rise in the hormone insulin which acts to clear sugar and fat from the blood and to be stored in the tissues for future use. This causes weight gain. Eliminate sugar. Lose weight. Simple as that.

JOIN A SUPPORT COMMUNITY when making huge changes, it is very beneficial to surround yourself with people who are on the same path as yourself. Without a support community, there is a huge possibility of not sticking to and accomplishing your goals.

MOVE YOUR BODY I think everyone knows by now that exercise promotes health and ideal weight. If you move your body you will lose pounds, look better, and feel better.

15 Foods that help Weight Loss

Coconut oil
Chlorella
Sprouts
Grapefruit
Apples
Carrots
Salad
Apple Cider Vinegar
Seaweed
Green tea
Beans
Spices
Olive oil
Nuts
Tofu

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