Guest Post by Steve Jasper
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 300,000 people die every year as a result of obesity. As many as 34 percent of all adults are obese, which is more than double the levels seen 30 years ago; and it's even worse in children. These figures are even more significant when you realize that the majority of cases stem from poor eating and exercise habits. Obesity isn't some unbeatable disease; it can be stopped, but if only the proper steps are taken to prevent it.
The best way to do this is simply by exercising. However, the truth is that only a fraction of people are regular routine gym-goers who work out tirelessly on ellipticals or weight machines in order to keep their bodies healthy and active. Most people avoid the gym or only go periodically and don't understand that working out serves a more important function than just building muscles. Working out can help you improve your body image, self-confidence, and when it comes to the obesity epidemic can even save your life.
The list of ailments that go along with obesity is almost endless: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, respiratory problems, and even cancer all have higher incidence rates in the obese. This is scary enough, but looking at the statistics, it's even more frightening. The Journal of the American Medical Association states that 72 percent of men over the age of 20 are considered to be overweight or obese. A staggering 32 percent of Men and 35 percent of women are morbidly obese. The term dangerously or morbidly obese refers to the likelihood that a person's obesity will directly cause health complications. This is too much- especially when studies held by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have shown that physical activity may greatly reduce the risk of both obesity and most health conditions in men.
Depending on who you ask, going to the gym may either seem like a hobby or a chore, but following those routines are important to staying fit and healthy for men and women everywhere. Now, we all come up with excuses as to why we can't work out. When polled, the biggest reason people gave for not being able to exercise is, "not enough time." The best way to overcome this hurdle is by getting your hands on one of your own personal home gyms. When you factor in the time it takes to travel back and forth from your fitness center, the gas money spent to do so, and the various membership fees, a home gym starts to look like a very reasonable option. And if you are more likely to work out regularly on your home gym than you are at your club, then all the more reason to pick one up.
Diets similar to the Atkins program can work to help curb obesity, but the effects of it on the obese are still very debatable. One thing that's never been debatable when helping someone lose weight and stay in shape is exercise. If it's done right- and done consistently- then obesity will cease to be a threat to our society and lifestyles.
Steve Jasper is not a medical expert. If you have any serious medical concerns, please consult a qualified medical professional before undertaking a new fitness regimen. Steve is a contributing blogger from Gymsource who writes an all topics related to fitness equipment and more.
Affiliate Disclosure
