How to Fight Debilitative Obesity

Individuals who have a body mass index of 40 or higher are called morbidly obese, which means that their weight can result in other health problems including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, breast and colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and sleep disorders. Not only behavior, but genetics and environment play a role in obesity, so remember when fighting obesity that there are a number of factors to consider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Assess your family history. If you have been raised in a family where exercise is discouraged and high fat foods are prevalent, environment may be a key determiner of your weight. It's hard to change behavior ingrained since childhood. You need to be especially careful about what you eat when visiting family and friends and change your home environment to prevent obesity in your children.
2. Start moving. If your weight already makes it hard for you to get out and exercise, start where you can. Do stationary exercises like lifting small weights while seated, stretching your arms or legs out and rotating them in small circles and doing leg lifts while lying down. Walk for whatever distance you are able. Walk regularly, even when you don't feel like it and set a goal each week so that you can walk a little bit farther or a little bit more often each time.
3. Fill up on healthy foods. It's better for your body and your metabolism to stay full eating vegetables and low-fat foods. Your body will quickly regain weight lost by fasting when you start eating again.
4. Join a support group. Losing weight is easier when you have the support of those around you and when you join others who share your goals. Supportive friends will encourage you to eat well and get out and walk even when you don't want to. Take the initiative to seek out others with whom to share your experience with resources like the Obesity Action Coalition.
5. Talk to your doctor. If you have improved your lifestyle and are continuing to gain weight or are not losing any weight, you may have significant health obstacles. Your doctor can help you understand what is going on with your body, because you may have a thyroid disorder or other medical problem that is preventing you from losing weight.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid rewarding yourself with food.
• Be aware that many insurance companies do not cover weight-loss treatment of any kind, so ask your doctor and your insurance company to keep you informed about procedures and their costs.