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Health conscious Walk to burn calories

The cause for being overweight is usually the fact that more calories are eaten than what can be burnt off. The extra calories are stored by the body in terms of fat. It is not a calamity if a few pounds of fat are deposited in the body but if that imbalance of diet and required calories remains it can lead to being overweight and then to obesity. The population below 19 tends to be obese and gives rise to health problems hitherto associated with older people. The most common cause of obesity is genes: the tendency to retain and store fat is more developed in some people. . It is also impacted by the lifestyle, for example unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity etc. Medical conditions like depression also push people into eating more.

Obesity causes a variety of problems.

- There is physical deformity of the legs due to excess weight.

- Wear and tear of the weight bearing joints of the body can cause an early onset of degenerative diseases. If the younger children are obese the unfused long bones are prone to lesser circulation and delayed bone formation.

- Asthma and breathing problems are common problems for overweight people, it can also cause sleep apnoea . It could even get worse causing

- The heart needs to pump much and leaving them prone to conditions of high blood pressure.

- Increased cholesterol levels are likely to cause heart ailments.

- Insulin is not as effective in obese people as it should be and thereby there are elevated levels of blood sugar making them more prone to diabetes.

- Fat finds its haven in the liver and increased deposition causes inflammation of the liver cells.

- A fine balance of hormones in a woman’s blood stream maintains many a balance. But in obese women, the testosterone levels can be elevated and lead to ovarian disease, Moreover, the ovulation is likely to get delayed and later in life problems of infertility can appear.

- Last but not the least, obese people are more depressed due to low self-esteem.

The key to managing weight and bringing it down is a practical way of addressing the problem rather than going on a crash diet. Balance of wholesome eating is the key, more than starving or pleasure-free dieting. Just like an investment in the stock markets requires a diversified portfolio, the same is true for nutrition as a diet rich in whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, vegetable oils, low-fat dairy, meat is necessary for good health, guarding against heart diseases and cancers and protect body cells from damage through antioxidants.

- Fruits either fresh, frozen, canned or dried is and ideal food choice.

- Dark green vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, beans, peas and lentils are called for.

- Low fat milk would afford the necessary calcium for body needs and strength of the bones.

- Whole grains, oat based cereals form the base for an ideal breakfast while vegetarians would find ample amino acids in soya.

Moderate physical activity is necessary to shed weight and improve health. Stretching exercises also help flexibility, while resistance exercises for muscle strength and endurance are essential. These also help one to be more energetic and sleep better.

Apart from a balanced diet and the necessary physical activity, there is no other magic remedy to lose weight. If it is due to a hormonal imbalance and certain difficulties in achieving the necessary lifestyle, homeopathic medicine can be of help. Insulinum, Apis mel, Colocynth, Phytolacca, Calcarea carb are the few remedies recognised to help.

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