Obesity is a problem on a constant increase, more and more people are overweight, and more and more people are exposed to various health problems because of their corpulence and body mass. During the past year, 2014, a record number of 1.9 billion overweight adults worldwide was reported, with 600, 000, 000 people that classify as obese. This means that 39% of our entire population are currently at risk of diseases and illness caused by poor life choices, and there are as many as 42 million children, 5 years or younger, experiencing the same problem.
If you are not sure about how your personal body mass affects your health, and how much you need to lose or gain, here is a BMI calculator that might come in handy. It is estimated, that if you continue to follow this progress, and you should know that in the last 35 years the number of obese people has doubled, by the year 2020 80% of men will be overweight, and 36% of women will be obese. Remember that this condition comes with a series of health problems, most of them fatal:
- High blood pressure;
- Blood fats;
- High cholesterol;
- Coronary artery disease;
- Diabetes, type 2;
- Metabolic syndrome;
- Gallstones and bladder problems;
- Sleep apnea;
- OHS, obesity hyperventilation syndrome;
This list could go on, and if you are obese, the first thing you should understand that this is not something you should be ashamed of, in fact, you should be worried. All chances are that your genetic predisposition had something to do with your current state, and junk food that is maybe even too available to us and tempting as it is certainly didn’t help. In the following commentary we will explain how much physiotherapy is important in fighting obesity.
Physiotherapy and Obesity Management
You can surely understand that if you were leading this lifestyle for some time, almost every type of movement can be exhausting and present a problem. Physiotherapy can help you to regain your strength by increasing gradually your range of movement and physical activity. This type of a therapist is an expert when it comes to anatomical mechanisms, physiological barriers, health diseases and troubles concerning muscles. In their area of expertise they can even determine a diagnosis without any previous consultation with doctors. What is probably the most important factor, they are caring individuals that will relate to your problems and will gladly make a commitment to help you get better by motivating you, exercising with you, and manage your long-term conditions.
With most of the cases of obesity, a low motivation is a very crucial factor of the disease, and this is why physiotherapists conduct a treatment plan for every individual in particular. By addressing personal issues and possible causes, with providing lifestyle advice in a positive way of communication, a therapist will always find a way to encourage the patient to make the necessary change in life. Constant supervision and monitoring of progress of strength, endurance, and flexibility and, of course, the progress of weight loss will help a patient to stay on track. Also, a therapist is managing possible difficulties that may occur, like arthritis, back pain, knee pain and other problems caused by weight, with physio equipment and proper exercise.
Have faith in physiotherapy, the program and the method of gradually increasing activities and motivating the patient by personal approach will always show positive results.
Chloe is a beauty and health enthusiast from Adelaide, Australia. Regular contributor at HighStyleLife. Equestrian, and a mum-to-be. In love with koalas and Sicily.