Causes of Obesity We Need To Know

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Being overweight or being obese refers to the body weight that is greater than what is considered healthy for a certain height. Although many people consider losing weight, or make an effort to avoid being overweight or obese because of their physical appearance, there is more to it than meets the eye. Truthfully, there are serious health risks that we need to address when someone is overweight or obese. This is not just about how the clothes don’t fit well anymore, how it is hard to move and even have an active lifestyle. An overweight or obese person is at high risk in having chronic diseases such as Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Gallstones and even cancer! To avoid having these health hazards, we must be able to avoid having excess weight or being obese—and by knowing the causes, we might be able to successfully avoid being obese!

Causes of Obesity:

1. Lack of Energy Balance – Lack of energy balance happens when one takes in more calories than what is used. Energy IN is the amount of calories you take while Energy OUT is the amount of calories you use. If there is no balance in the energy you take in and use up, the probability of weight gain is high.

2. Inactive Lifestyle – An inactive lifestyle is when you spend hours sitting down, watching TV and purposely choosing lying around than exercising. With this kind of lifestyle, weight gain is very much possible. This is because the amount of energy you are using is not the same as the energy you take in from food and drinks. When you prefer to ride cars, use elevators and escalators all the time, you are just putting your energy on rest which results to weight gain.

3. Environment – The place we live in, the place we are exposed to are a huge part of our health choices. Like the lack of affordable gym that people can use anytime, lack of sidewalks and bike lanes. Huge meal portions at restaurants, lack of healthy food choices that are made affordable for the general public. Even the working schedules are not health friendly at all. With this kind of environment, we are exposed to an unhealthy lifestyle/

4. Genes and Family History – Mostly, obesity is carried out because of family history. Families share food and activities together so if a family eats unhealthily and live a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain or even obesity may follow. This is because a person adapts the unhealthy lifestyle he/she gets exposed to.

5. Health Conditions – Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Underactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone will slow down metabolism which causes weight gain. Cushing's syndrome is a condition in which the body's adrenal glands make too much of the hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome also can develop if a person takes high doses of certain medicines, such as prednisone, for long periods. People who have Cushing's syndrome gain weight, have upper-body obesity, a rounded face, fat around the neck, and thin arms and legs. PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that affects about 5–10 percent of women of childbearing age. Women who have PCOS often are obese, have excess hair growth, and have reproductive problems and other health issues. These problems are caused by high levels of hormones called androgens.

Failing the Test of History: Privilege Speech on SC Decision Allowing Burial of Marcos in LNMB

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"Mr. President, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

I rise on behalf of Susan Quimpo, a prepubescent girl during the early years of Martial Law, who spent her weekends packing cooked rice for detainees at detention centers holding political prisoners. Five of her siblings were imprisoned during Martial law – all of them student activists belonging to the underground movement. Her brother Nathan, was stripped naked and clubbed several times by his captors. Her brother Jan, and I quote from her book Subversive Lives, “had his head repeatedly immersed in a commode filled with urine, water was injected into his testicles, and his feet were doused then jabbed with live wire.” Jan Quimpo joined the ranks of the desaparecidos, and the last conversation Susan had with him was when he asked her to leave some dinner. Another brother, Jun, was shot in Nueva Ecija in 1981.

I rise on behalf of Sixto Carlos, now a jolly man in his seventies with ruddy cheeks and an easy laugh. He was arrested with no charges filed in 1978 and put under solitary confinement for two years. He was viciously beaten, had boiling water poured at him, and was hung from the ceiling from his handcuffed hands. In his own words, he said, “I was held on either arm by two men and the third man sat on my lap. The blindfold was removed and replaced by a towel on my face. They commenced to put water over the towel on my face. I had the sensation of drowning." This is what is known as waterboarding, an innocuous name for a torture technique so repulsive and dehumanizing.

I rise on behalf of Etta Rosales, former Congresswoman and former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, who was repeatedly raped and tortured during Martial Law. She recounts her torture under the hands of her prison guards: “They tried to make me speak by burning me, pouring what felt like hot wax from a burning candle on my arms and legs. When that didn’t work, they tore off my clothes, pressed the barrel of a gun against my temple and played Russian roulette.” When she was elected Congresswoman of Akbayan in 1998, she met one of her captors who had now become her colleague. “The last time I met you,” Etta said, with her trademark candor, “was in the military safehouse where I was tortured.”

I rise for them, and I rise for all the victims of Martial Law. Ako ay tumatayo sa harap ninyo ngayon alang-alang sa mga natorture, mga pinatay, mga kinulong ng rehimeng Marcos. Ako ay tumatayo alang-alang sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay – mga magulang, asawa at anak na inulila ng diktadura. Para po sa kanila ang resolusyon na ihahain ko sa Senado ngayong hapon.

Top 5 Ways You Can Cultivate Poise like Audrey Hepburn

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Audrey Hepburn had it. Jacqueline Kennedy had it. Even Fred Astaire had it. They all had poise. And you can have it too.

By definition, poise is a self-confident manner or bearing that offers steadiness and stability. It is most often indicated in a particular way one carries himself or herself, and it can make the difference on whether you are respected as a business leader -- or not.

Poise is being aware of your surroundings and being flexible and adaptable. Poise is not something you are born with or can acquire overnight. It is something you must practice daily.

Here are a few ways you can cultivate poise:

1. Practice manners and etiquette.
First impressions count when meeting with someone. Stand tall and act confident (even when you don’t feel it). Give a firm handshake, offer an enthusiastic greeting and maintain eye contact. Always introduce yourself by saying your first and last name. If you forget someone’s name, don’t fret. Just say something like, “It’s been one of those days; please tell me your name again.”

Be mindful of how your behavior affects others and learn the proper etiquette of dining and socializing. People notice your manners, whether you are taking a co-worker to lunch, networking in a crowded room, negotiating a deal or simply interacting around the office.

Related: The Best 25 Motivational Quotes To Kick Start Every Morning