How Serious Is The Threat Of Obesity? - By: Shaun Parker

Looking after our health is no mean feat these days. Our lives have become busier than ever and to cope with this, fast food and convenience foods have become more popular in order for us to manage our time better. However, this has a detrimental effect on our health and, in the long run, means that we will fit less into our schedules due to ill health brought on by obesity which, in turn, is brought on by a bad diet.

Obesity is a killer and it's on the increase. We are, literally, eating ourselves to death. The NHS are inundated with patients needing treatment for heart surgery due to the affects of obesity and conditions such as asthma are also on the rise due to the over-indulgence of the nation. More of the UK population are turning to health insurance as a back-up for possible ill health. However, prevention is also an essential aspect we should build into our lives for the sake of our health.

A report commissioned by the World Cancer Research Authority has found that seven million people worldwide die from cancer every year. If obesity continues to rise at its current rate, this figure will rise to more than ten million by 2020.

Obesity masks many of the early warning symptoms of cancer as well as making a person more susceptible to the disease through a fatty diet and lack of exercise. In fact, up to thirty per cent of cancers are thought to be due to inactivity and obesity. The risk of developing breast, colon, uterus, kidney and oesophagus cancers are increased greatly when a person is severely overweight.

The amount of body fat a person carries influences hormones and growth factors like oestrogen and insulin. With these issues comes a related increase in the likelihood of cancer and of course, the opposite is also true. Take care of our diets and our bodies will take care of themselves.

With one in four men and one in three women in the UK being overweight the Government are implementing many measures to educate and encourage people to eat well. This includes making sure fast food chains clearly list calorie and fat content in their food so at least people can make an informed choice.

Health officials have found that nearly a quarter of children under the age of five were overweight and an overweight child usually ends up as an overweight adult with all its associated health issues. These findings have led health officials to call on the experts to find a way of monitoring children under the age of two to correct bad habits and weight issues early on.

In desperation, people often look to faddy diets and 'miracle' foods that claim to help you lose weight while you continue to enjoy eating whatever you want. These diets are simply unrealistic, according to The Office of Fair Trading.

Chocolate that helps you burn calories while you eat it, at a cost of nearly 40 pounds for a 40 day supply; fat burning pills that make you lose weight without exercise or diet; liposuction pads that supposedly 'suck fat' through the feet and granules that swell in the stomach to help you feel full are all scams that should be avoided like the plague.

None of these products are backed up by proper trials or evidence that they work. There is no miracle cure but a simple healthy diet and exercise regime will be all you need to keep control of your own health as far is it is possible.

About the Author

Shaun Parker is a medical professional with many years of experience in the area of cardiology. Find out more about health insurance at http://www.health-on-line.co.uk

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Shaun-Parker/28721

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