Weight Management

Weight Management

In today’s environment people feel a lot of pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to succeed, pressure to outcompete everyone else. Maybe these are extremes, but persons in our day and age, do have quite a lot on their plate, especially if their in less favourable circumstances, such as living in a developing or underdeveloped economy. However, the present short essay outlines topics most closely associated with first world problems. For example, in a rural region of Africa where starvation is rampant, there is no use for the present article, which focuses on weight management, weight maintenance and weight loss.

Debates about looks aside, there seems to be a consensus in the literature that obesity is unhealthy. Obesity can lead to many health problems, including diabetes. Interestingly, from a scientific point of view, lifestyle interventions to reduce weight are more effective in the short turn. In the long turn, initially obtained results from the induced weight loss program is reversed and the pounds or kilograms shed are gained back. Also, people differ in their ability to gain or lose weight genetically.

Some diets may result in low mood. Image: Elena

However, good and bad life habits contribute to weight gain or loss. For example, studies in the literature have shown that even after losing weight following an exercise and diet program, some individuals but not others, regain weight because they go back to their unhealthy habits, which are far from conducive to weight maintenance or weight loss. All in all, maintaining or losing weight is, if not easy, then simple enough. One must remain active and consume less calories than one burns; and, in addition, the calories consumed must come from heathy products, such as food that is lean and contains no trans fats.

Some body builders advise for a low fat, low carb, purely protein diet. Whether that is reasonably feasible and sustainable diet depends on each person. Also, a physician’s advice may come in handy when trying to change one’s diet and before taking any body building specialists’ advice. We are not discrediting fitness coaches (they can help a lot with getting in shape), but they are not doctors and some elements are best viewed from a medical perspective.