The number one reason for obesity, according to doctors

Although COVID-19 is on the decline in the United States, Americans are looking to a different epidemic that shows no signs of abating: obesity. More Americans than ever – about 42% of us – qualify as clinically obese. This is an urgent problem, given that obesity dramatically increases the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia. But solutions are available, and they start by recognizing the main reason for obesity. Here’s what the experts are saying. Read on to find out more and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You May Have Already Had COVID.

“To determine if someone is obese, we look at the body mass index,” a measure of body fat based on height and weight, says Me Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “The normal range for BMI is 18 to 25.” A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, while “if someone has a BMI over 30 they are considered obese and at risk of developing health problems due to their weight,” says Ali.

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People tend to get overweight because they regularly consume more calories than they burn. “A lot has to do with the quality of the diet and the various habits that people can adopt, such as snacking regularly,” explains JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of preventive medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

But not all calories are created equal. Some highly processed foods, including simple carbohydrates, sweets, packaged snacks, and fast food, don’t keep you full and encourage your body to eat more and keep eating.

For example: A diet high in processed foods like chips, cookies, and TV dinners will raise a person’s blood sugar levels, which can cause insulin spikes and drops, leading to frequent feelings of hunger. “Foods like these don’t tend to lead to satiety, so you tend to overeat,” says Manson.

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Experts say there is no quick fix (or diet) to losing weight. The key is to consume fewer calories. “The truth is, almost any diet will work [for weight loss] if it helps you take in fewer calories, ” said Harvard Medical School.

Doctors therefore advise eating high-quality calories, such as those provided by the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil, while being low in red meat, in processed meats and processed foods. For snacks, instead of candy or chips, try nuts, fruit, or non-starchy vegetables with a yogurt-based dip.

These healthy staples can be delicious and satisfying, keeping you full without the need to starve yourself or resort to old-fashioned calorie counting. “The quality of the diet is much more important than the amount of calories,” says Manson. “A high quality diet will almost automatically lead to better calorie control – you will eat foods with greater fullness.”

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“The goal of treatment for obesity is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight,” explains the Mayo Clinic. “It improves your overall health and lowers your risk of developing obesity-related complications. You may need to work with a team of healthcare professionals – including a dietitian, behavior counselor, or obesity specialist – to help you understand and change your diet. and activity patterns. The initial goal of treatment is usually modest weight loss – 5% to 10% of your total weight. This means that if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg) and are obese BMI standards, you would only need about 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg) for your health to start improving. However, the more weight you lose, the greater the benefits. ” And to get through this pandemic in better health, don’t miss these 35 places where you’re most likely to catch COVID.