Being obese or obesity is not just about appearance, it increases your many health conditions, including type-2 diabetes, cholesterol, and many more. Over-eating, genetics, hormones, lack of exercise are all the main culprits of obesity. Adopting certain lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and healthy eating can avoid this condition. If you are struggling with obesity, then keep reading to know about the 8 main foods that cause obesity.
Overweight and Obesity – Are They Same?
Even though the terms ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’ are similar, there is a difference between them. According to the WHO, overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) that is greater than or equal to 25. On the other hand, a person with a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese. If your BMI result shows that you are obese or overweight, then don’t waste your time and start your journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
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Discuss with a healthcare professional regarding your weight concerns. If you don’t have time to visit a hospital for this, then, don’t worry, you can also consult a doctor online.
Foods That Cause Obesity
Here is a list of 8 foods that cause obesity:
- Fried foods
Deep-fried foods, especially from restaurants and streets, are very much riskier for your health. This not all makes you obese but can also raise your cholesterol level. The worst part is that it can even lead to a heart attack or stroke at a very young age. Fried foods are high in calories when compared to non-fried foods. When you fry something, it loses water and absorbs more fat – this increases the calorie content.
Fried foods are high in trans fats. This type of fats is formed when unsaturated fats undergo the process of hydrogenation. It changes the chemical structure of the fats and makes it difficult for your body to break down. This further leads to negative health effects.
- Butter
Excessive butter intake causes excess fat deposition in the body and therefore is one of the foods that cause obesity. Butter is high in calories, that is each tablespoon of butter contains around 102 calories. Even though eating this in moderation is fine, excess intake can cause extra calories to stack up. It is always recommended to take butter in moderation along with a balanced diet.
- Processed meat
Those meats that have been salted, cured, or smoked are known as processed meats. They contain a lot of saturated fats, calories, sodium, and therefore increase the chance of obesity. A high intake of processed meats can also lead to adverse health conditions, including cholesterol, cancer and heart diseases. Try to replace processed meats with beans, nuts, poultry, or fish, and save yourself from the risk of obesity and other health problems.
- Pizza
Pizza is one of the delicious, mouth-watering junk foods that are very popular among youngsters. Even though pizzas are very tasty, they are high in refined carbs, fat, and calories. This increases your chance of being obese. Also, some popular pizza varieties are made with cheese as well as processed meats so as to improve it’s taste. If you really want to eat pizza, try making it at your home using healthier ingredients like veggies or whole-grain dough.
- Sweets
Sweets and desserts are high in added sugar and therefore high in calories. When consumed daily, it contributes to the risk of obesity and many other health conditions. Try to limit your sweet intake to once or twice a week.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
Drinking too many sugar-sweetened drinks that contain added sugar or other sweeteners including sucrose, high fructose corn soup, fruit juice concentrates, and more increases the risk of obesity. They are high in calories – the more ounces of these beverages you drink each day, the more calories you take in later the same day. Beyond weight gain, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages also lead to serious health conditions such as type-2 diabetes and heart diseases.
- Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the main foods that cause obesity. They are potent sources of starchy carbohydrates and also help in storing unburnt fat in your body in the form of excess fat, thereby making you gain weight. Regular intake of potatoes also increases the risk of type-2 diabetes and heart diseases.
- Doughnuts
Doughnuts contain high amounts of added fats, sugar, and refined flour which contributes to weight gain. They are also high in calories, that is, a medium-sized doughnut contains around 200 calories. To keep your weight in check and reduce your risk of obesity, avoid doughnuts as much as possible.
Obesity Diet
If you consume high amounts of energy (especially fat and sugars) and do not burn them off through physical activity, this surplus energy will be stored in your body in the form of fat. Therefore, it is essential to follow a healthy eating habit. Given below are a few points that you must follow for a perfect obesity diet:
- Avoid red or processed meats and go for lean meats such as chicken and salmon.
- Stay away from trans fats such as fried foods, fast foods, noodles, pasta, burger, etc.
- Reduce your daily sugar intake.
- Include more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
- Never skip meals.
Remember, a healthy diet alone will not reduce your risk of obesity. Along with a healthy diet, you should follow a regular exercise routine. You can also try doing intermittent fasting for weight loss. If you have any queries regarding obesity or foods that cause obesity, never hesitate to talk to a doctor.
