Manage your weight and protect your health
Current statistics suggest that half of the South African population is either overweight or obese.
Excess weight can have a significant impact on your health and affect your quality of life. It puts you at risk of developing chronic medical conditions and makes it more difficult to manage existing conditions.
Excess weight can have a significant impact on your health and affect your quality of life. It puts you at risk of developing chronic medical conditions and makes it more difficult to manage existing conditions.
What’s 5 kg?
A weight gain of 5 kg has been linked to a 30% increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, a 14% increased risk for high blood pressure, an 8% increased risk for cardiovascular disease and a 6% increased risk for obesity-related cancer.
A 10 kg weight gain may increase your risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, gout and kidney stones.
A weight gain of 5 kg has been linked to a 30% increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, a 14% increased risk for high blood pressure, an 8% increased risk for cardiovascular disease and a 6% increased risk for obesity-related cancer.
A 10 kg weight gain may increase your risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, gout and kidney stones.
How does your weight affect chronic medical conditions?
Diabetes
Obesity has been linked to 24.8% of self-reported cases of Type 2 diabetes in South Africa.
Heart disease
Excess weight puts strain on the heart, and 30% of the South African population has some form of heart disease.
Hyperlipidaemia
Obesity can increase the risk of hyperlipidaemia, also known as high cholesterol.
When you have high cholesterol levels, it significantly increases your chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
Hypertension
77.3% of hypertension cases are linked to obesity or being overweight.
Obesity has been linked to 24.8% of self-reported cases of Type 2 diabetes in South Africa.
Heart disease
Excess weight puts strain on the heart, and 30% of the South African population has some form of heart disease.
Hyperlipidaemia
Obesity can increase the risk of hyperlipidaemia, also known as high cholesterol.
When you have high cholesterol levels, it significantly increases your chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
Hypertension
77.3% of hypertension cases are linked to obesity or being overweight.
Achieving sustainable, long-term weight loss
Even losing 5 kg can help reduce your risk for chronic medical conditions and improve your sleep.
Sustainable, long-term weight loss will require you to make a few essential lifestyle changes, such as:
Even losing 5 kg can help reduce your risk for chronic medical conditions and improve your sleep.
Sustainable, long-term weight loss will require you to make a few essential lifestyle changes, such as:
1. Visiting your doctor
Your medical professional will assess your risk and recommend a course of action.
2. Moving more
Aside from exercising, try to walk more by taking the stairs instead of a lift and standing up from your desk or couch every 30 minutes to encourage movement.
3. Eating more fruit and vegetables
You could add fruit to your meal every morning and include vegetables on your lunch and dinner plates.
4. Drinking more water
Carry around a water bottle to help you keep hydrated.
5. Getting enough sleep
Remove devices from your bedroom for better sleep.
6. Managing stress
Try journaling or meditation to help manage stress.
Remember that AECI Medical Aid Society offers screening benefits paid from risk once a year. Consult your member guide or visit our website at aecimedicalaidsociety.co.za to view the screening-related benefits covered on your option.
Losing weight can do wonders for your health; small changes can make a big difference. But don’t put it off. Your risk for chronic medical conditions increases the longer you leave it.
Your medical professional will assess your risk and recommend a course of action.
2. Moving more
Aside from exercising, try to walk more by taking the stairs instead of a lift and standing up from your desk or couch every 30 minutes to encourage movement.
3. Eating more fruit and vegetables
You could add fruit to your meal every morning and include vegetables on your lunch and dinner plates.
4. Drinking more water
Carry around a water bottle to help you keep hydrated.
5. Getting enough sleep
Remove devices from your bedroom for better sleep.
6. Managing stress
Try journaling or meditation to help manage stress.
Remember that AECI Medical Aid Society offers screening benefits paid from risk once a year. Consult your member guide or visit our website at aecimedicalaidsociety.co.za to view the screening-related benefits covered on your option.
Losing weight can do wonders for your health; small changes can make a big difference. But don’t put it off. Your risk for chronic medical conditions increases the longer you leave it.
References:
- https://www.wits.ac.za-news-latest-news-opinion-2023-2023-07/half-of-all-south-africans-are-overweight-or-obese.html
- https://www.theguardian.com-global-development-2022-mar-04-obesity-rates-likely-to-double-by-2030-with-highest-rises-in-lower-income-countries
- https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com-articles-10.1186-s12889-023-15186-w
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov-pmc-articles-PMC8740746-
- https://www.gov.za-speeches-health-world-hypertension-day-commemoration-17-may-2023-0000
- https://www.mdpi.com-2076-3417-12-9-4697
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov-pmc-articles-PMC7082272-
- https://www.hindustantimes.com-fitness-gained-5kg-in-middle-age-it-might-up-risk-of-diabetes-heart-disease-story-OeVPyuzYPV7u6OmtmxRppK.html
- https://www.dovepress.com-weight-gain-after-20-years-of-age-is-associated-with-unfavorable-lifes-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
- https://www.citizen.co.za-lifestyle-health-heres-what-losing-just-5kg-can-do-for-your-health-
- https://www.prevention.com-weight-loss-a20505548-small-changes-that-take-off-big-pounds-