Is it possible for malnutrition and obesity to co-exist at the same time in the same country? In south Africa, 1 in 3 men; more than 1 in 2 adult women are overweight and obese (These are same levels as in the U.S.A). In Kenya 12 % of the population are overweight.In deed, overweight is really a major disease, in line with Aids and malnutrition
What being overweight means? When people talk about being overweight, they mean that someone has more body fat than is healthy. Everyone has some body fat, but when someone has excess fat, it can affect the person's health. It also affects the way they look and may cause them to be bigger and rounder than other people.
Are you overweight? Someone can be underweight, at an ideal weight, overweight, or obese. Perhaps the best way to assess an adults' weight is to use something called body mass index, or BMI.
BMI uses your weight and height and basically tells you if you have an unhealthy body weight. It is an indicator of how much body fat the person has, but it's only an estimate. Because muscle weighs more than fat, it's possible for a muscular person to have a high BMI, but that doesn't mean he or she is overweight. Likewise, it's possible for someone to have a low or ideal BMI but still have too much body fat.
You can figure out your own BMI if you know your weight and your height. Just use this calculator.
Why Do People Become Overweight or Obese?
Most of the time, people have too much body fat because the body gets more calories (from foods and drinks) than it burns through physical activity such as walking. Extra calories are stored as fat. The more extra calories a person consumes, the more fat is stored.
This happens very easily in modern life. Grown-ups spend more time sitting at desks and in cars than they once did. People also lead busier lives so they have less time to cook healthy meals. We eat more restaurant meals and ready-made food from a box.
But it is not only processed food and lack of exercise that is making Kenyans fatter. Traditionally seen as a sign of wealth, being fat now has another significance for people living in Kenya. Aids has had the nickname "slim" in Africa for many years because it makes its victims literally waste away. As a result, people do not want to lose weight in case others think they are HIV-positive.
Weight problems also can run in families, but don't let that discourage you from making changes that could help you reach a healthy weight. Your habits that is, what kind of food you eat and how much you exercise can make a big difference.
Lose a little
It's hard to feel good when your body has too much weight to carry. Being overweight or obese can make it harder to breathe and sleep. A weight problem also can make you embarrassed, sad, or even angry. And when people feel bad, they may eat more because food can be comforting. This isn't a good idea, especially if the person is already overweight.
The best way to stay at a healthy weight is to be active. If you don't like team sports, try swimming, Jumping rope, dancing, and walking will get your heart pumping. Getting some extra exercise can be as easy as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of using a car.
Being active also means watching less TV and computing less. Losing between 5% to 10% of your weight can significantly improve your health, reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and increasing life expectancy.
Eating healthy is another part of staying fit.Aim to eat a variety of foods and get four to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Choose water and low-fat milk over soda and other sugary drinks.
When it comes to high-calorie and high-fat foods, eat them only once in a while and, when you do, have smaller portions.
What being overweight means? When people talk about being overweight, they mean that someone has more body fat than is healthy. Everyone has some body fat, but when someone has excess fat, it can affect the person's health. It also affects the way they look and may cause them to be bigger and rounder than other people.
Are you overweight? Someone can be underweight, at an ideal weight, overweight, or obese. Perhaps the best way to assess an adults' weight is to use something called body mass index, or BMI.
BMI uses your weight and height and basically tells you if you have an unhealthy body weight. It is an indicator of how much body fat the person has, but it's only an estimate. Because muscle weighs more than fat, it's possible for a muscular person to have a high BMI, but that doesn't mean he or she is overweight. Likewise, it's possible for someone to have a low or ideal BMI but still have too much body fat.
You can figure out your own BMI if you know your weight and your height. Just use this calculator.
Why Do People Become Overweight or Obese?
Most of the time, people have too much body fat because the body gets more calories (from foods and drinks) than it burns through physical activity such as walking. Extra calories are stored as fat. The more extra calories a person consumes, the more fat is stored.
This happens very easily in modern life. Grown-ups spend more time sitting at desks and in cars than they once did. People also lead busier lives so they have less time to cook healthy meals. We eat more restaurant meals and ready-made food from a box.
But it is not only processed food and lack of exercise that is making Kenyans fatter. Traditionally seen as a sign of wealth, being fat now has another significance for people living in Kenya. Aids has had the nickname "slim" in Africa for many years because it makes its victims literally waste away. As a result, people do not want to lose weight in case others think they are HIV-positive.
Weight problems also can run in families, but don't let that discourage you from making changes that could help you reach a healthy weight. Your habits that is, what kind of food you eat and how much you exercise can make a big difference.
Lose a little
It's hard to feel good when your body has too much weight to carry. Being overweight or obese can make it harder to breathe and sleep. A weight problem also can make you embarrassed, sad, or even angry. And when people feel bad, they may eat more because food can be comforting. This isn't a good idea, especially if the person is already overweight.
The best way to stay at a healthy weight is to be active. If you don't like team sports, try swimming, Jumping rope, dancing, and walking will get your heart pumping. Getting some extra exercise can be as easy as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of using a car.
Being active also means watching less TV and computing less. Losing between 5% to 10% of your weight can significantly improve your health, reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and increasing life expectancy.
Eating healthy is another part of staying fit.Aim to eat a variety of foods and get four to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Choose water and low-fat milk over soda and other sugary drinks.When it comes to high-calorie and high-fat foods, eat them only once in a while and, when you do, have smaller portions.
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