Sugar And Obesity
Ashley Graham was one of the first models who proudly showed of their bodies, which are considered outside the “typical model figure”, without fear of body shaming. Graham is a plus-size woman who has graced covers of various magazines such as Sports Illustrated and hosted various shows on television.
It is important to remember that eating healthy is not just to achieve magazine cover-worthy bodies, but to protect our own health and wellness. With this in mind, let us talk about obesity.
What Is Obesity?
Obesity can lead to various health problems and issues. A person is considered obese based on his or her weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI of 30 to 39.9 is categorized as obese, while a BMI of 40 or higher is categorized as severely obese. You can try online calculators to check what your BMI is.
Various factors come into play when it comes to obesity. Lifestyle and habits, such as the kind of food you eat, the amount of physical activity you perform, as well as genetic factors, all play a role in determining your BMI. Unfortunately, regardless of the root cause, obesity poses many health risks, the most common of which are heart disease and diabetes.
The Sugar Connection
Being overweight and obese have been among the causes of 3.4 million deaths in 2010, and placing major effects on health care costs as well. The World Health Organization has estimated almost two billion overweight adults globally, with around 600 million considered obese.
Action On Sugar states, “Excessive unhealthy food and sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption has been linked to weight gain, as it provides a major and unnecessary source of calories with little or no nutritional value.”
Too much sugar in the diet can greatly affect the way insulin works. This means that sugar, or glucose, is not broken down efficiently and stays in the bloodstream, affecting different organs and systems in the body. By overexposing your body to constant and excessive sugar intake, you risk developing a resistance to insulin. The body becomes less tolerant of sugar, and you risk experiencing diabetes symptoms.
In addition, fructose (a common form of sugar found in beverages and sweets) causes weight gain and impacts another hormone known as leptin. More fat stores and higher leptin levels lead to obesity.
To learn more about the sugar content of common commercial food and drink items, check our last blog post.
Taking a Healthier Route with NatriSweet
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Its uses are endless: use Natrisweet to bake something delicious or add a mouth-watering sweetness to all of the favorite recipes, pastries, desserts, and beverages.
References:
http://www.actiononsugar.org/sugar-and-health/sugar-and-obesity/