Diet pills are gaining enormous popularity;
this is because the number of overweight persons has
been steadily increasing through out the world at an
alarming rate. The continued over consumption of calories,
more than what are actually required for meeting body
energy expenditure, results in accumulation of fat in
and on the body. Science uses the ratio of weight divided
by height to determine the Body Mass Index (BMI) of
a person. A BMI of 20 -24 is desirable for most adults.
A person having BMI of 25 to 29.9 would be considered
as overweight. A person with BMI of 30 or above can
be classified as obese. The persons with high BMI run
a substantial risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus,
Hypertension, Coronary heart disease and Arthritis.
The increase in number of overweight
persons may stem from a double explanation: either the
people are more interested in food or they are spending
less energy. The condition of excess weight due to overeating
may be a habit culturally imposed by a family custom,
side effect by certain drugs, an occupational hazard
or an expression of boredom and emotional frustration.
Under expenditure of energy may also be a product of
sedentary lifestyle or temperament of a person. It is
highly possible that the overweight person may have
a low metabolic rate than the average. The genetic makeup
inherited from parents can also be partially blamed
for an increase in weight.
The increasing girth of people throughout
the world can also be attributed to changing lifestyles.
There are longer work hours at sedentary jobs and lesser
time is devoted to physical exercise. The physical education
programs in schools do not find many takers, and students
are finding Internet browsing, playing videogames rather
than playing in the field, television, and movies more
attractive. More over the labor saving devices like
remote control and telephone extensions continue to
promote a sedentary lifestyle.
In an increasingly competitive world
besides physical problems, the overweight person also
experience social and psychological problems. In majority
of cases the overweight person is preoccupied with being
thin. In the initial judgment of a person the society
is also unfair in having a tilt towards the appearance
of a person rather than work.
An aggressive and proactive approach
is required to combat the increasing weight. A nutritionally
balanced low calorie diet coupled with regular exercise
is necessary for achieving long-term weight control.
The negative emotions that lead to overeating needs
to be curbed to prevent unwanted eating habits. Weight
loss medications are also in vogue but are considered
appropriate only for people with BMI of 30 or above.
Last but not the least, Gastroplasty and Gastric bypass
surgeries may be a viable option for extremely overweight
persons. These surgeries are not without risk and post
surgery also requires the person to follow an elongated
weight control program. Even diet Pills have to be taken
with proper diet program so that they can provide best
possible results.
The benefits of losing weight can never
be debated. Nevertheless the overweight persons should
set a biologically weight loss goal in consultation
with their dietician and fitness trainer. We have to
accept that no treatment produces long-term maintainable
weight losses. The aim should be to achieve modest reduction
in weight and significant improvement in health. |
