Do you eat right, stay hydrated and exercise regularly, yet still struggle with unwanted weight? People today are facing weight issues more than ever before, as obesity rates continue to trend upwards.
"Globally, there are 1.5 billion adults who are either overweight or obese, a number expected to increase to 3 billion by 2030. The epidemic is reaching catastrophic proportions, and one of the key—if small— steps to bringing it under control is to have a common language to describe the problem."
-Harvard School of Public Health
What is obesity?
Harvard School of Public Health defines obesity, in simple terms, as having too much body fat. There are many risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and even mortality. It is becoming increasingly important to be aware of where you stand in terms of body fat levels, as global obesity is rising rapidly.
Body Mass Index
One common method used to analyze body fat levels is the Body Mass Index (BMI). To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kg by your height squared (BMI = kg/m2). Research has shown that your BMI correlates well with important health outcomes, such as those listed above. A healthy BMI for adult men and women ranges anywhere from 18.5-24.9. A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 or higher is classified as obese.
Abdominal Obesity
Calculating your BMI is a great place to start, but what the Body Mass Index does not consider is the extra fat around your abdomen. Abdominal obesity is most simply determined by measuring waist size. Women who have a waist size of 35 inches or higher and men who have a waist size of 40 inches or higher are generally considered abdominally obese.
Obesity Rates in Canada
According to a 2014 study conducted by Memorial University, Canadian obesity is a growing epidemic. Over the past three decades, obesity has been on the incline and is expected to continue to trend upwards in the future. The authors projected that by 2019 approximately 21% of Canadian adults will be obese.
Obesogens
Obesogens, or endocrine disruptors, are natural and man-made chemicals that alter the regulatory system, controlling your weight. Exposure to obesogens results in an increase in fat cells, a decrease in the calories you burn, and even an alteration in the way your body manages hunger.
"Obesogens include a variety of chemicals with diverse mechanisms of action resulting in excess fat accumulation. While water-soluble chemicals are rather easily metabolized and excreted by the liver, fat-soluble ones are stored in fat cells where they are protected from the body’s natural detoxification systems."
- Isagenix Health
Protecting Yourself From Obesogens
Quite frankly, obesogens can be found in everything, everywhere. However, by following these 5 steps you can learn what to avoid and what actions to take to protect yourself from obesogens.
- Avoid skincare products with harmful chemicals such as phthalates. Many skincare products—including sunscreens—may improve the look of your skin temporarily but often use harmful chemicals that can be absorbed by the skin and disrupt hormone systems. Phthalates, for example, are common in synthetically fragranced personal care products that can influence hormones related to metabolism. Stick with a skincare line that not only supports your skin’s appearance, but also your health.
- Avoid certain plastics. Some plastics contain toxins that easily leach into food and liquid. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxin found in some plastic products that has been linked with increased abdominal fat and glucose intolerance even at low levels—characteristics associated with obesity. When storing foods, use stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastics. Also, look for products that have BPA-free packaging.
- Choose green house cleaning methods. Toxins aren’t just outside your door—they are also in your house. Harmful organotins (tin-containing compounds) are found in flooring, purses, and shower curtains. Studies show that mice exposed to organotins were predisposed to weight gain problems. The best way to manage these obesogens within your home is to clean on a regular basis using green cleaning methods, such as steam, rather than polluting your home further with toxin-filled cleaners.
- Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoke contains millions of toxic substances and some are suspected obesogens. Research shows that infants born to mothers who smoke while pregnant have an increased risk of obesity during infancy and childhood. Second-hand smoke may have the same effects, so it’s best to avoid cigarettes all together.
- Support internal detoxification. The human body itself has within its organs, tissues, and cells, a series of pathways that are involved in detoxification. These pathways must be supported nutritionally and the use of certain bioactive compounds from plants can improve their efficiency. In addition, dietary approaches such as intermittent fasting can help stimulate greater detoxification across these pathways and support fat loss—the primary location for toxin storage. A combination of nutrition, bioactive compounds, and intermittent fasting is incorporated in performance of Cleanse Days on an Isagenix system (read more here).
Tips provided by Isagenix Health
I am a firm believer in health promotion and disease prevention. It's time we fight this detrimental disease, and together we can.
L.
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