Obesity is an issue that many Australians face with 2 in 3 people categorised as overweight or obese. Obesity has become such a large problem and this is because it affects the social, physical, and psychological aspects of a person’s life.
Physically, being overweight contributes highly to the risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and can even affect the fertility of women which leads to high risk pregnancies. The pressure that being overweight places on the joints means that activity and movement can become quite difficult and painful. Most importantly, obesity can reduce your life expectancy by up to 9 years.
However, the effects of obesity aren’t only physical, they also stem into the social aspects of life. People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from prejudice and discrimination. This prominence of discrimination amongst people who suffer from obesity leads to an inability to make a lot of friends. Studies have also found that it is a common factor that affects education and job status because of its link to poor concentration levels, poor academic success, and social exclusion.
The impact of obesity on everyday life leads to several psychological issues such as: depression, anxiety, low quality of life, low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. With its impacts, constantly being present socially and physically, obesity begins to affect the mental health of the people who suffer from it. These impacts allow obesity to become a cycle of bad consequences that affects the quality of life.
The social, psychological, and physical impacts of obesity on the quality of life for the people that it affects can be reduced by lowering body weight by 5-10%. The reduction of body weight dramatically reduces the health risks that are linked to obesity.
Is obesity an issue with which you suffer from? Do the consequences mentioned in this article plague you? Come in to A2Z Medical Centre and book an appointment with our dietitian so we can help you get on the path to a healthier lifestyle, one step at a time.
To book an appointment with our dietitian contact A2Z Medical on (02) 9758 9848.
For more inquiries email us at questions@a2zmedical.com.au