The aim of the day is to raise awareness about obesity and how it can be an open door to comorbidities. WGO has partnered with The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), to do the needful.
Obesity!
Obesity is talked about a lot but people, even after knowing everything, turn a blind eye towards it. It has been more than a year since the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to control cases, lockdowns were and still are implemented in some countries. As a result of staying at home 24*7, people have adapted to a sedentary lifestyle. Apart from not working out, all the negative and overwhelming news has given way to emotional eating and even binge on unhealthy snacks. All these are greatly contributing to people becoming overweight and obese.
This is a major concern because while the world is already trying to defeat one pandemic, obesity has taken the face of a second one. Obesity is not just one condition, it welcomes other comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. which is more worrisome, especially in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity and overweight conditions result in at least 2.8 million deaths each year.
What Are The Causes Of Obesity?
The two major reasons for overweight or obesity are:
- Not following a proper diet or overeating
- Lack of physical activity
What more to know besides the causes is that obesity can lead to Hypertension, Diabetes, High cholesterol, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Heart diseases or strokes, Kidney failure, Certain types of cancers like liver cancer, etc.
Other Digestive Disorders
Here are some of the digestive disorders, besides obesity, that you should know about. Symptoms like stomach ache, bloating, gas, heartburn, etc. can indicate these conditions:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) and Gastritis
- Stomach Flu
- Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Diverticular Disease
Natural Way To Maintain Gut Health
- Consume foods with probiotics
- Limit foods containing high sugar, salt, and carbs
- Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially the seasonal ones
- Eat foods with plenty of fiber
- Drink a lot of water throughout the day
- Practice mindful eating
- Chew properly and take your time to eat. Do not hurry
- Avoid alcohol consumption and quit smoking
- Try to manage your stress through yoga or meditation. Do not distress yourself with unhealthy foods like chocolate, ice creams, etc.
If your gut is not healthy and the common symptoms like heartburn, stomach ache, bowel issues, etc. are prolonged, or if there is any unusual symptom, consult a doctor immediately. However, the key to good digestive health remains to be a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.
