Obesity—it’s not Just About Looks!!!
Obesity—it’s not Just About Looks!!!
Being overweight or obese is not a problem of only our “looks” or how we fit into our clothes! It involves so much more than just “looking good”. It does usually involve self esteem and in that respect could involve mental health issues. From a spiritual standpoint It could involve idolatry. Are you turning to food for comfort instead of to God? Are you lacking in faith and trust around your physical body, whether that is around eating, exercising or health in general?
There are also a large variety of physical issues involved with being obese that are well documented scientifically. Being obese increases your risk of premature death, of heart disease, and of high blood pressure. Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, of joint problems and of arthritis. Being obese increases your risk for sleep apnea, snoring and asthma. Obesity also increases your risk for several types of cancers, for high (bad) cholesterol, and for gallbladder disease. It also increases your risk of stroke, gynecological problems and depression!
For more information on the physical health effects of obesity visit these links:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/obesity/fact_consequences.html
And for those of you still holding out thinking that it’s not as bad as ________ (fill-in-the-blank), listen to this! Researchers have found that being obese has more adverse health effects and results in a greater expenditure on health care than smoking, drinking or poverty! For more details on this point please see:
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB4549/index1.html
Convinced it’s a problem? What can be done?
Get some help. Research has proven that getting help and accountability greatly increases your chances for success in weight loss and any habit change endeavor. Find a weight loss group or weight loss program or weight loss coach! Be sure the program includes scientifically proven eating and exercising guidelines, ways to deal with your thought life and if you are a Christian, that it includes prayer, scripture and ways to involve God in your efforts. Mine does. Check it out on the services page.