Lifestyle Factors That Can Have A Significant Impact On Individual’s Health

Across the country, millions of Americans struggle with weight gain. In fact, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 2 out of 3 Americans are considered to be overweight.

Why Is Obesity A Problem?

It is well known that obesity increases the risk that a patient will develop other serious health problems, such as:

Diabetes
Cardiac Disease
High Blood Pressure
Stroke
Gallbladder Disease
Certain Cancers
Arthritis

By losing weight a patient can lower their risk of developing one of these diseases. Losing weight is not an easy task, however, which is why identifying the factors that have helped a patient gain weight in the first place are so important.

Factors That Can Impact Weight Gain

The following should be taken into consideration when formulating a plan to lose weight.

Diet

Although this may seem incredibly obvious, many Americans still do not have a great grasp on which foods they should be eating for their health. Processed foods, foods that are higher in sugar, and high-fat junk food are delicious and can even be addictive. Companies who make these foods are more interested in making money than creating healthy products.

It can be difficult to change eating habits but it is not impossible. The best way to approach this change is to make small changes over a long period of time.

Physical Activity

Any physical activity can help a person lose weight. Walking, running, yoga, swimming, and cycling are all popular activities but each person must find the type of movement that suits them best. The activity should also be something that they enjoy.

For some, exercise is better done alone, but for others, working out in a group is better. Try new things and find what works best!

Burnout

It’s no secret that Americans push themselves to work harder and longer than many others. But Americans also have a higher rate of burnout.

A recent study performed by the University of Georgia in Athens found that burnout can impact weight gain. The study found that workers with a demanding position frequently overate, picked foods with higher levels of fat, and exercised less.

Stress

When most people hear the term ‘stress,’ they automatically think about its negative impacts. However, stress is a natural response produced by the human body when it is under some sort of pressure, whether physical or emotional (mental.)

Short-term stress responses can provide the energy and focus needed to accomplish immediate goals. Indeed, in this kind of scenario, stress is a positive and productive response.

However, over time, long-term or chronic stress has been directly linked to obesity and metabolic disease, particularly in females. It can cause a host of problems that can cause you to gain weight or, at the very least, make it quite difficult for someone to shed those extra pounds that they want to rid of so badly.

Family & Friends

Family culture and how friends interact can impact a person’s eating and drinking habits. For example, if family and friends drink alcohol regularly, this can impact a person’s eating and drinking habits.

For example, alcoholic drinks can be quite high in sugar and consuming these drinks in large quantity on a regular basis can cause serious weight gain.

Genetics

While it is true that genetics can mean that they are at higher risk of becoming obese, choosing a lifestyle that best combats genetics can result in a happy and healthy life.

Consulting A Doctor Is Important

Creating a healthy lifestyle should be done with the help of a qualified medical professional. Taking the first step and consulting with a general practitioner who may then refer you to other specialists, such as a nutritionist.

Never be afraid to talk about the challenges you face, not just with your doctor but with loved ones. Have a supportive environment when tackling obesity can make all the difference.