Am I Obese?
Your Beer Belly May Be Getting in the Way of More Than Just Your Belt Buckle
Nobody wants to be overweight, but when the word “obesity” is used to describe your health condition, there’s more at stake than just how you look and feel. Your overall health can be negatively impacted in a number of significant ways.
In addition to obesity leading to dangerous conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure, it can also cause depression, cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
But wait, there’s more
As if these conditions are not troubling by themselves, men have the additional concern of obesity accelerating the decrease in testosterone. As men age, their testosterone decreases about 1% per year, which in itself is not problematic, but if that rate increases, it can lead to problems with erectile dysfunction (ED).
So am I just overweight or obese?
The gold standard in determining whether someone has overweight or obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI between 25 and 30 puts you in the overweight category, while a reading of 30 or more says you're obese. Each one-point increase in someone’s BMI can equal a 2% decrease in testosterone.
A beer belly can be especially troubling
If your fat accumulates around the abdomen, you are especially prone to the dangers of obesity. In males, abdominal fat will convert testosterone to estrogen. If your waist circumference is above 37.5 inches, it can create a deficiency in testosterone. If that number goes over 40”, the odds can be as high as 75% that there is a testosterone deficiency.
Obesity can be passed on to your offspring
Obesity can also impact fertility, which can be especially troubling for people wanting to become pregnant. And even if you are able to beat the odds, it’s likely that you may pass obesity to your offspring by transmitting “health cues”.
Bad news/good news
Testosterone levels may not be affected quickly and directly by weight-loss, but there are other ways to reverse or slow the decline. Additional testosterone can be prescribed by doctors in the form of a gel, injections or patches.
It’s difficult, but possible
Losing weight is not easy by any means, but can be made easier by following a few strategies.
Strength train: By incorporating strength training into your regime, you will lose fat, which is the key to a healthier body.
Eat protein: I t’s not just about burning calories, it’s about WHAT you eat. Your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbohydrates, plus you reduce the hunger hormone and boost several satiety hormones.
Get enough sleep: getting sufficient sleep can keep ghrelin, the “hunger gremlin” at bay, as well as your glucose and insulin resistance in check
Drink more water: drinking water can increase your metabolic rate, meaning that it can stimulate more calorie burning at rest, suppress your appetite, boost your metabolism, and make exercise easier and more efficient.
Don’t go at it alone: It takes time, commitment, and the support of friends, family, and health practitioners who can guide you to a healthier life, and provide evidence-based strategies to help you on your weight-loss journey.
If you’d like more information on how Evora for Men can help you with your weight loss to help you look and feel your best, contact us today for a FREE 15 minute consultation.
