How To Fight Inactivity, Obesity and Fatigue and Win

• One of the primary causes of obesity is inactivity combined with taking in too many calories.
• One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome for someone who is already obese is to add activity to their lifestyle because they are tired all of the time.

We’ve all heard that obesity is becoming a bigger problem in the United States and in other parts of the Western world. Unfortunately, the problem is not an easy one to tackle. Because of the one-two punch of fatigue and inactivity, most people who are overweight are going to remain that way even if they do reduce their calorie intake. The good news is there are some ways to fight back.

Relationship between Inactivity & Obesity

One of the primary causes of obesity is inactivity combined with taking in too many calories. Because of the already unhealthy diet most Americans are consuming, including a lot of high-fat fast food, their caloric intake has dramatically increased. However, fewer Americans are doing anything to burn off that extra weight. According to one study, around 40% of Americans don’t engage in any regular, physical activity. Without some type of activity to increase the energy demands of the body, most of those extra calories are going to be turned into fat and stored in the body. When the calorie intake continues to be high and the amount of activity stays the same or decreases, the stored fat can’t be used up and actually continues increasing which leads to obesity.

Ways to Prevent Obesity

Paying more attention to how much we eat is one obvious way of preventing obesity, but so is increasing our activity levels. Making changes before you gain too much weight are easier than once you are already obese because all of that extra weight is going to increase your fatigue and put more stress on your body which makes any type of activity more difficult and less desirable, especially if you’re already not a fan of exercise.

Of course, some people also have a greater tendency to become obese thanks to their genetics. If you have a family history of obesity, you should be even more active in reducing your possibilities for excessive weight gain. Chances are you would also have a greater family history of obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, too.

Fatigue & Activity

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome for someone who is already obese is to add activity to their lifestyle because they are tired all of the time. They may feel so exhausted that they literally can’t imagine exercising. This could be worsened because of sleep apnea which prevents them from getting a good night’s sleep and makes them feel tired throughout the day.

However, the biggest reason most people feel fatigued is because of a lack of physical exercise. As little as a 20 to 30 minute walk can actually help you feel less tired. While walking is a great, low-impact type of exercise that would be ideal for people who are overweight or who are trying to increase their activity levels, there are also other options.

Swimming is another good one, too. Because the water makes you more buoyant, your body doesn’t feel the strain and pressure of your excess weight so you can exercise more easily without damaging your joints and muscles. Doing some weight lifting to increase your lean muscle mass is also good because it will speed up your metabolism and help you burn more calories and lose weight.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.