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Weight tends to increase insidiously. One extra kilo may not be a cause for concern, but over a period of years, one kilo can become several dozen kilos and that is already significant excess weight. Dr Martin Adamson, a bariatric and abdominal wall reconstructive surgeon at the Weight Loss Clinic, gives advice on what signs to look out for to know you should address your weight.
Track your body mass index
A good indicator of body weight is the body mass index. If your body mass index is over 25, you should start thinking about your weight regardless of your age. Of course, this does not apply to athletes who have a higher weight due to high muscle mass.
Note that the goal is definitely not to be at the lower limit of the normal BMI range. The normal weight range is actually quite large.
Know that being overweight is mostly a lifestyle issue
It is often believed that being overweight is genetic and that it is impossible to change it. In fact, the body is shaped more by lifestyle and a person’s habits. For example, in an overweight family, the problem is often that parents pass on their lifestyle to their children – eating habits and physical inactivity.
Notice health problems
There are many problems associated with weight gain. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint problems, infertility and heart disease are common. One of the most common problems associated with weight gain is depression, as weight affects a person’s self-esteem.
What problems related to being overweight arise and when is individual, but obesity still negatively affects all organ systems in our body and it is only a matter of time before the first health problems arise.
By losing weight, it is possible to improve or completely recover from many problems.
Do not be afraid to seek help
If you cannot manage to change your lifestyle on your own and your weight still does not go down despite your efforts, it is worth seeking specialist advice. Do not be afraid thinking that the first solution is surgery. It is not! The first place to start is with a nutritionist, who will explain how to eat properly to achieve a healthy weight.
If the weight gain is significant and a nutritionist or specialist has not been able to help, it is worth turning to a family doctor who will give a general assessment of your health and diagnose possible diseases associated with being overweight, i.e. perform an initial risk assessment, as being overweight often comes with health problems.
If it seems that what your family doctor has done is not enough and you would like to get an overview of your health, you can order a health assessment package from a private medical company. You can also choose individual samples, which are not very expensive, but give you peace of mind about the state of your health.
44-year-old Jüri’s weight started to increase after he quit smoking and reached 155 kilos. He tried various weight loss methods and unfortunately they did not work. He went to a nutritionist and followed a diet plan. He admits that he lasted two to three months and lost weight, but he gave up and the weight came back.
“My weight fluctuated enormously,” he said. “I could easily put on 10 kilos a week and then slowly lose it again. Since dieting did not work, I searched for solutions on the internet and ended up having a gastric bypass. It is easy to say, look, I did not bother to deal with nutrition. Today, I know that every body is different and what works for one person may not work for another. After the surgery, I have been able to follow the diet plan without any problems.”
Read more about Jüri’s experience HERE.
