The Health Effects of Being Overweight

The obesity rate is at its worst in human history, especially in South Africa. About 30% of the world’s population is currently overweight. Not only have statistics revealed that 82% of South African women over the age of 45 are overweight, but 40% of all South African men over the age of 35 are also overweight. If that’s not enough – South African young children, tweens, and teens are not very far behind

 Is being overweight ruining your life? Did you know that South Africa is the fattest nation in Sub-Saharan Africa? According to the latest statistics conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Statistics South Africa, and the Department of Health, the South African obesity rate has tripled over the past decade.

Where Are South Africans Going Wrong?

Being overweight or obese has now been listed as a chronic disease caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, and personal factors. But, if you want the honest brutal truth, high-carbohydrate diets are the real problem. We’ve entered the fast-food generation, where convenience and temptation have never been greater. Today’s diets are laced with sugar, MSG, artificial colourants and flavours, chemical fillers, GMOs, preservatives, additives, trans fats, and limited amounts of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. There you have it – South Africa has been hypnotised by the processed food epidemic. Unfortunately, to make matters worse, junk foods are cheaper than healthy foods.

It’s not healthy being overweight, and although for some it is unavoidable, for others, it is optional. When you are overweight, you carry a higher-than-average risk of 50 different serious health issues. In fact, excess fat does much more than increase your weight, it compromises your life. A Harvard study that combined data from more than 50 000 men and more than 120 000 women revealed some sobering statistics about the negative health effects of being overweight. Below, we’ve listed a few:

• Asthma
• Body image issues
• Clogged up arteries
• Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease
• Eating disorders
• Enlarged fatty liver
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
• Hyperlipidaemia (high triglycerides and poor cholesterol levels)
• Kidney disease
• Lethargy
• Mental health disorders
• Metabolic syndrome
• Neuropathy
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Osteoarthritis (joint pain)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Stroke
• Type-2 diabetes
• Pancreatitis
• Poor blood circulation
• Blood clots
• Back pain
• Vertebral disc disease
• Infertility
• Erectile dysfunction
• Vitamin D deficiency

While it’s quite normal to have a bit of belly fat (visceral fat) to provide cushioning around your organs, real serious problems arise when you have too much visceral fat. Visceral fat is the worst and most dangerous type of body fat. As it slowly creeps in between your organs, the fat releases certain proteins that trigger many of the diseases listed above. But that’s not all – this type of fat increases your risk of developing certain forms of cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder cancer, and prostate cancer. While the deadly diseases above are serious issues, the good news is that losing weight can reduce your risk of developing some of these diseases, and Herbex can help you do it.

“Most people work hard and spend their health trying to achieve wealth. Then they retire and spend their wealth trying to get back their health” – Kevin Gianni

Nature Always Knows Best

We are proud to be an award-winning weight-loss brand at the forefront of the health and weight-loss industry. For over 20 years, we’ve successfully helped thousands of men and women achieve their weight-loss and health goals. As firm believers in natural methods, we believe that Mother Nature has gifted us with many magnificent things, such as herbs and plants. Theses gifts of nature have been used for many centuries by many cultures. We’ve taken Mother Nature’s most powerful, super healthy fat-burning and slimming herbs, and created a wide range of natural weight-loss products to balance your lifestyle. Don’t struggle with your weight problems alone, contact a Herbex representative and get the support you need to achieve natural weight loss and optimal health.

We look forward to helping you get back your health, not just for you, but also for your loved ones who wish nothing but the best for you, including lowering your risk of the many diseases that are associated with being overweight.