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Six million adults are obese or overweight. Recent surveys by the Ministry of Health found that 36% are women and significantly less, men are 28%. Women between the ages 15-69 are at a high risk.
Obesity is a serious, chronic condition where one has abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that has negative impairments to one's health. A body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above is considered to be obese. CAUSES OF OBESITY IN WOMEN Lifestyle Turn-up’ lifestyle. It is a known fact that excessive alcohol damages a person's liver over time. Lets not forget that alcohol is just empty calories. Alcohol makes it harder for the human body to burn fat, the calories are then just stored. Stressful lifestyle . Like it is not hard enough to manage stress, add managing weight gain to that list. Cortisol is a stress hormone that in large amounts causes weight gain in the belly. Nutrition Junk Food. Almost every college students weakness. The deep-fried chicken, pizza, king-size burgers, lets not forget soda. All at a cheap price. Although delicious, fast food meals are high in fat and lack healthy nutrients. Hormones Might sound ridiculous but hormones make women gain weight. Oestrogen, when excessive, causes weight gain around hips and thighs, cellulite and water retention. Inactivity With all the toxins that are pumped into the human body, they are stored rather than burned off because of lack of exercise. ALARMING HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY OBESITY Obesity has zero positives on one's health. Zero. Whether it is your mental, physical or long term health. According to WHO (World Health Organization), around 3.4 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. WHAT DOES FITNESS MEAN TO KENYAN WOMEN? Fitness means different things to different people. Some women workout to boost their self-esteem, bounce back after pregnancy, to feel fit and healthy. To others, fitness is a mindset and a passion. Essentially, being “fit” can be achieved through proper nutrition, moderate to vigorous physical exercise, and sufficient rest. Below, are a few views of what Kenyan women think about fitness and the role it plays in their life. DR. FITNESS
Enter Dr. Esther Dindi, also known as Dr. Fitness, she has been married for 12 years and has three children. Seeing her patients suffering from the effects of lifestyle choices inspired her to start Doctor Fitness Kenya Ltd, which seeks to provide fitness solutions for the modern woman and to inspire better and healthier lifestyle choices.Dr. Esther Dindi has a professional background in medicine, specializing as a consultant physician and an expert in fitness. “It pained me to see so many dying young due to diseases caused by poor lifestyle choices, and because I always loved fitness, I decided to change the narrative by helping prevent these illnesses, especially among women”, says Dr. Dindi. Dr, Esther Dindi aka Dr. Fitness currently has a fitness show on Ebru TV that airs from Monday to Friday at 6:30 am and 4:30 pm. Or, you can watch her workout and nutrition advice on her youtube page. CREATIVE AND FUN WAYS TO START EXERCISING Exercising and trying to stay fit can be quite a chore for some. But working out doesn’t actually have to feel like that! Physical activity can be a great way to connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.It also gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns. ZUMBA Zumba is one of the most popular exercise trends in recent times. It has combined elements of dance and aerobics, and other South American inspired dancing and rudimentary exercises.There are over15 million people in more than 175 countries around the world who engage in Zumba for fitness. Health Benefits: - Burns calories – Helps burn 300-600 calories through rapid, high intensity controlled movement for up to an hour. - Promotes endurance – gets your body accustomed to ongoing exercise and energy expenditure, which makes workouts easier and more enjoyable. - Increase coordination- the multi-tasking elements of Zumba and dance like motions keep your body in prime physical shape. - Reduce anxiety– the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters help improve and eliminate stress hormones in the body since Zumba takes place in a social environment. - Full-body workout – Zumba acts as a full body workout, engaging almost every muscle group in the body which in turn helps for efficiency during the workout. USING YOU ENVIRONMENT Just because you can’t make it to the gym everyday doesn’t mean you can’t work out. Below, are a few handy steps, that can help re-energize you and help you get into shape. |