A very important health hazard that the world faces today is from obesity and overweight. The overweight population is prone to a variety of health problems such as cholesterol, heart problems, diabetes and high blood pressure. High calorie intake combined with low physical activity is considered as the most common cause of obesity. Obesity and overweight are most common in the rich countries of the world as well as the affluent class in the developing world. It is seen that the poorer sections in the affluent countries too are afflicted with this condition. This fact, amongst others, indicates that the problem is actually a lifestyle problem. The low physical activity and the kind of food that are consumed together cause the problem.
The food that is available and consumed in urban areas have undergone rapid change. Processed food has come to replace fresh food. They have become associated with the urban lifestyle. Processed food is moreover in tune with the busy urban life. Some of them are ready to eat while others need very little preparation. The processed food is cheaper, available and easily accessible. They have also come to be called junk food or fast food. Generally, they are rich in sugar and fat, and also contain additives. While the affluent sections in richer countries eat both high calorie food as well as processed food, the poorer sections consume more of the processed food which is low in nutrition but high in calories. The affluent in the poorer countries also consumes high calorie food as also increasingly the processed food. Combined with sedentary life style precipitates accumulation of fat. Obesity, however, is also known to be caused by eating and genetic disorder.
Increasing number of obese population has also led to the expanding market for weight loss program. The market is abuzz with newer and newer products and programs guaranteeing effective weight loss. But all this can be quite confusing to someone on the look out for effective weight loss program. It will help if you are able to assess the cause of your problem, may be from a specialist, and about the weight loss products and programs. The World Wide Web is indeed a major source for information. There are many books that give you information both on the weight loss programs as well as on the problems of obesity as Lose Your Belly Fat, GI Diet and HCG Diet Guide.
Changes in lifestyle are what are required to combat obesity. Health awareness and consciousness has come to the fore. There is a swing towards organic food. There is also better awareness on the bad effects of fast food.
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