Body weight control

Bone, muscle, organs, body fluids, adipose tissue are all components are body weight. Maintaining a constant body weight is regulated by a complex system of neural, hormonal and chemical mechanisms that keeps the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Mechanism abnormalities can result in weight fluctuations (overweight and obesity).



Excessive energy intake (overeating) can be active or passive. Active overeating is partly the result of excessive portion sizes that are accepted as the norm. The portions and calories that restaurants offer for one meal usually satisfies a person’s daily energy needs. Passive overeating refers to eating energy-dense diets. The amount of food may not be excessive, but the calorie content is. The effect of eating more calories than needed is compounded by low energy expenditure. The sedentary people nature is a factor in the growing problem and obesity.

Obesity is simply the accumulation of excess body fat. It is a chronic disease that is very difficult to treat. As such, it requires long-term treatment to lose weight and keep it off. There is no overnight solution! Effective, permanent weight loss takes time. The essential factors in losing weight and keeping it off are motivation, proper eating, exercise habits, and an appreciation for better health. Losing weight will help you feel better. It also will improve your health. Obesity has been directly linked with mortality and many chronic ailments including: diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, some cancers, gallbladder disease.

You have to understand that it is not enough to lose weight. It is more important to maintain weight. Often people think that if they could lose the weight, maintenance would easily follow. Without attention to weight maintenance, weight loss is doomed to failure.

Obesity management should include lifestyle modification strategies such as:

• Increase number of walking minutes on weekends;

• Regular Weighing;

• Eat meals every day at the same time;

• Don’t take snacks if you are not hungry;

• Make eating a singular activity (turn off the TV);