Why am I fat? It’s a question that persists in the minds of many persons all over the world everyday. There’s no simple answer, but I’ll attempt to break things down in a meaningful way for you below. This is based strictly on nutritional and health-related perspectives.

Genetics – it is no secret, some persons ARE genetically predisposed to being fat. Why / how / who? Unfortunately I can’t say specifically, but numerous studies have shown this to be true.

Body Type – there are said to be three basic body types or shapes:
1. The endomorph – said to be the body type which tends to carry more fat in proportion to muscle, with small bone structure. These people reportedly find it difficult to reduce body fat and increase muscle mass.
2. The mesomorph – said to be more muscular and strong looking, and has smaller amounts of body fat.
3. The ectomorph – said to be slim and lanky, with small amounts of muscle and fat mass.
So, in terms of body type, where do you think you fall?

Calories in the womb – some studies have shown that malnutrition in the womb and a low-birth weight can lead to obesity later in life.

Stress – numerous studies have linked stress to obesity. One of the hormones – cortisol – which is produced in response to stress, is associated with insulin resistance and central obesity.

The Environment – mechanization and automation have made has reduced our activity level and basically made us LAZY. We don’t walk or work as hard (physically) as we probably should, so combine that with numerous strategically placed fast-food restaurants here there and everywhere and you have a sure path to obesity.

This is a bit about the “science” of fat. Hope it helps you to understand even a little bit better about what you may face and how to tackle it.

These three words – healthy diet & exercise – are the key to fighting obesity. This is particularly important for women because surveys have showed that the percentage of overweight and obese women is double that of men.

Obesity is not only associated with conditions that affect both women and men (e.g. as hypertension, diabetes and arthritis) but is also linked to many conditions that are quite unique to us women. For example, pregnancy complications that are associated with obesity include an increased risk of miscarriages, having a large baby, gestational hypertension and diabetes. Other conditions that are also linked to obesity in women include  polycystic ovary syndrome as well as endometrial and breast cancers.

So now that I’ve highlighted just how bad obesity can be for us women, what can we do about it? Healthy diet & exercise!

Exercise

Numerous studies have shown that exercise is an extremely important component in both achieving and maintaining weight loss. Finding the time seems to be regular cry here, but I’ll put it to you that if you can find the time for the things that you enjoy and which are important to you, then you’ll find the time to EXERCISE. Many physical activities can count as exercise – dance lessons, jogging, riding a bike, walking your dog, playing tennis, workout at the gym, and the list goes on. EXERCISE!

How often should you exercise? Everyday. The amount of exercise that a person requires will depend on his/her specific health needs, including factors such as whether or not they’re overweight or have heart disease. Typically however, us women should aim for between 30 and 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise daily … or at least most days of the week.

For all women who are embarking on a weight- or health- maintenance program, I strongly encourage you to explore and try different types of exercise until you find one that excites you, and works for you. Yes, generic Phentermine combined with a good plan is also a good way to go, but I encourage you to find some physical activity, that doesn’t necessarily even involve going to a gym – it could be as simple as walking or maybe dancing along to your favorite song! Have fun