The news media can be quite misleading. We’re always being bombarded with headlines that make us believe that certain supplements or foods will help us lose weight, but they rarely do. In fact, there are multiple health problems that go along with trying to shed off excess pounds.
Some people who are obese may have a medical condition called metabolic syndrome which is a combination of ailments such as high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. This is why you can’t lose weight and stay healthy – you’re likely to hit the wall of insulin resistance sooner or later which will sabotage any diet plan you might have.
What’s more, some of the foods that the media encourages us to eat are high in calories and can cause health problems by themselves. For example, refined sugar, which is added to most processed foods, has been directly connected to obesity and type 2 diabetes. It’s also far more expensive than it’s worth and runs counter to environmental sustainability.
Since the main cause of obesity is lack of exercise, it’s logical to assume that a healthful and active lifestyle will help you lose weight and stay healthy. However, that’s not always the case. There are various health problems that can interfere with your weight loss journey, and sometimes the problems are only made apparent once you’ve started trying to lose weight. Here are some of the reasons why you can’t lose weight and stay healthy –
Nutritional Deficiencies
It’s quite easy for the body to become deficient in vitamins and nutrients as a result of poor eating habits. If you’re not getting the nutrients you need in sufficient amounts from the food you consume, you’re at risk of getting sick or of becoming weak. This will ultimately lead you to lose weight regardless of how many calories you consume.
The human body needs an adequate amount of all nine essential nutrients to stay healthy. These nutrients are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. A good place to start if your diet is lacking in any of these nutrients is the Nutritional Supplements Clinic. They offer a wide variety of supplements that can help your body function at its best. As a result, you’ll have more energy to take care of your daily activities and you’ll start losing weight without even realizing it.
Organ Failure
Sometimes, our bodies don’t produce the hormones and chemicals needed to function properly. This can lead to serious organ failure. As a result of this, the body starts malfunctioning and attacking itself, causing further weight gain. In these cases, it’s important to see a specialist as soon as possible since the first sign of organ failure can be quite subtle and potentially dangerous.
For instance, the specialist may examine your thyroid gland and check whether it’s functioning properly. If it is, there’s no need to worry, but if it isn’t, you could be facing serious problems. Thyroid hormones are essential for the body’s metabolism, psychological health, and development. Therefore, its improper function can lead to a variety of illnesses and issues including obesity.
Infections
The immune system is one of the body’s essential defense mechanisms. It works by identifying and neutralizing foreign invasions such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These are infections that can interfere with your weight loss journey if not treated effectively. For example, parasites such as roundworms and hookworms can interfere with the absorption of nutrients needed by the body. They also increase the chances of you developing an intestinal blockage.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which causes it to malfunction. It’s often a result of a virus or bacteria invading the liver. This virus or bacteria can then cause the body’s other organs to become infected as well. For instance, people with hepatitis B may experience extreme fatigue and weight loss due to the virus seriously attacking the liver. While there’s no known cure for hepatitis, there are medications to help reduce inflammation and alleviate some of its symptoms. In most cases, the medications help people with hepatitis B achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Metabolic Syndrome
As previously stated, there are multiple health problems that can result in weight gain. One of the most dangerous ones is metabolic syndrome. It’s also one of the most common causes of obesity and type 2 diabetes. People with metabolic syndrome are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease.
This syndrome is a combination of several health problems including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. To diagnose it, your doctor will perform a blood test to determine your fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If these values are high, you may have metabolic syndrome and in most cases, it’s necessary to change your eating habits and begin taking dietary supplements to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol.
Other Physical Problems
There are other physical problems that can interfere with your weight loss journey. For example, some people are born with a disease called Bardet-Biedl syndrome which causes them to become overweight regardless of how much food they eat. This syndrome is also known to cause male infertility due to the men being unable to produce adequate amounts of sperm. Another problem that can cause weight gain is osteoporosis, which is a disease causing your bones to become thin and weak. Your doctors may then prescribe you a medication that can help to increase bone mass as a result of which you’ll have fewer falls and therefore fewer injuries.
Some of the illnesses discussed above are quite serious and can lead to premature death if not treated appropriately. It’s also quite common for people to struggle with eating disorders due to the societal pressure to achieve a certain body image. People with these disorders often go through extreme weight fluctuations which make it very difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight. If you or someone you know is dealing with an eating disorder, it’s essential that they receive the proper treatment as soon as possible so that they can begin facing their problems head on.
Conclusion
If you’re reading this, it probably means that you’re interested in trying to lose weight and stay healthy. While there’s no easy answer to the question of how to do this, you should know that there are multiple contributing factors that can make this difficult. Some of the illnesses discussed above can be quite serious and can lead to premature death if not treated appropriately. This is why it’s essential to seek medical help as soon as possible in the event you experience any of the symptoms.