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Technically speaking, obesity is a condition in which excess body fat accumulates to such an extent that health may be negatively affected. It is commonly defined as a body mass index (BMI = weight divided by height squared) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. This distinguishes it from being overweight as defined by a BMI of between 25-29.9 kg/m2.

Not so long ago, it was commonly believed that overweight and obese people were compulsive eaters, anxious, depressed, under stress, or trying to compensate for deficiencies in their lives. But today, when almost everyone seems to be getting heavier and obesity has become an international issue.

Some research suggests that depressed people are more likely to develop obesity. People may console themselves with “comfort food”, which is usually high in fat, sugar, and calories because they are anxious, lonely, angry, or suffering from low self-esteem. There is a characteristic type of depression with symptoms that include lethargy and overeating. Like most mind-body interactions, obesity can lead to ill health, which is linked to depression and anxiety.

Besides this the dietary habits contribute a lot towards obesity. I was in USA for a long time and obesity is increasing at an alarming pace there, especially amongst the younger generation. Majority of the youngsters thrive on cheeses and pizzas there. The ton of white flour and cheese ends up accumulating around the waist, leading to obesity. The second closest contender of food for them is fried food (French fries, fried chicken, fish, beef etc). These food items surely work wonders for the taste buds but certainly not for the body.

Another reason of obesity nowadays is the kind of jobs people are in. With more and more of desk work (where people have to keep sitting for long spans of time) and very less physical activity, people are becoming victims of obesity. The extreme competition in the corporate world has intensified this problem. Consultants, allured into the sexy world of money and fame, hardly have time to think about their health. Their schedules are jam packed with travel, meetings and deadlines to deliver their projects. The sleep deprived executives are left with little time to manage a healthy routine.

Technology cannot be excused either. With more and more advancements being made to make life more comfortable, we have overlooked the slow disaster it is leading us to. Everything can be done at the click of a button nowadays. This leaves very little space for physical activity for mankind.

The best methods of reducing excess weight are controlling diet and a moderate exercise program. Small drops in weight can create lower health risks for a person. Other methods of weight loss include drug therapy and surgery. But both of these come with risk of complications and mortality risks as well.

Tags: Anxious, beef, BMI, Body Fat, Body Mass Index, Comfort Food, Deficiencies, Depression, Diet, Excess Body Fat, Fish, Food Items, French fries, fried chicken, Fried food, Health, Obesity, Stress, Technology

A recent study by researchers at the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems Lab at the University of Washington found that the scenes of nature can alleviate minor stress levels. So if you are stressed, then look out of your window and relax your mind and soul.

Various people’s heart recovery rate from minor stress is measured during the research when they were exposed to a natural scene through a window and when exposed to the same scene shown on a high-definition plasma screen, or a blank wall.

“The heart rate of people who looked at the scene through the window dropped more quickly than the others. In fact, the high-definition plasma screen had no more effect than the blank wall,” the researchers said.

There is no alternate to nature and natural things. One has to come in the lap of nature from the exhausted life to get its benefit. Children nowadays remain stick to television sets and computers and other such media which doesn’t help to come out of stress.

It was found that when people spent more time looking at the natural scene their heart rates tended to decrease more. That was not the case with the plasma screen.

Study says that nature, either the real thing or depicted technologically, can impact on minor stress levels.

“Technology is good and it can help our lives, but let’s not be fooled into thinking we can live without nature,” Peter Kahn, who led the research team, said.

He said “people were losing direct experiences with nature and instead experiencing nature represented technologically through television and other media with children growing up watching Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.”

The study, involving 90 students, is published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Tags: Mind, Nature, Soul, Stress, Stress Management, Technology, Window