Lifestyles: Obesity and Active Lifestyle

Lifestyles What is a sedentary lifestyle? What is an active lifestyle? Which lifestyle is better? What are the pros and cons of these lifestyles? So many questions but these questions will be answered in the following passages.

A sedentary lifestyle is a living style in which a person, either an adult or a child, does not participate in a lot of physical activity or exercise for what is generally considered healthy living. The term is usually used by doctors or professionals within the medical community to describe a lifestyle among many people in highly developed countries that does not afford the opportunities for physical activity. This type of living has been heavily influenced by the passive forms of entertainment such as television, video games, and computer use. Along with such inactive types of entertainment, shifting of large numbers of adult workers from physical labor to office jobs has also increased the tendency for many people, especially in technologically developed nations, toward a sedentary lifestyle. A healthy active lifestyle is considered to be a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and a regular exercise plan. It generally also includes an absence of unhealthy habits, such as smoking. A healthy active lifestyle is a lifestyle that many people of all ages strive for, and with a little effort, it is entirely possible to achieve through some simple life changes. One way to get a healthy active lifestyle is to start with a healthy diet. Try eliminating some of the unhealthiest foods from the diet, or making some substitutions. For instance, if you have a soda or two every day, that could be replaced with water. A regular snack of chips or cookies might be replaced with whole-grain fruit or nuts. Many people also choose to take a daily multivitamin to make up for any deficiencies in their diet. Major disadvantage of leading a sedentary lifestyle is obesity. Due to lowered activity the number of calories burnt are far less than those consumed leading to obesity. Increased fat deposition in the body increases the risk of suffering with diseases such as heart attack, diabetes and more.

Sedentary lifestyle is not only a problem in adults even kids become victim of this problem. It results in development of metabolic disorders such as improper secretion of hormones such as insulin, cholesterol metabolism and many other diseases. Some of the cons of leading a sedentary lifestyle are listed below.

• Research work has shown that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle become aged very fast.
• Sedentary lifestyle promotes formation of blocks within arteries resulting in circulatory problems that lead to heart related problems such as atherosclerosis.
• Decreased activity increases the risk of developing certain types of cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and other types of malignant tumors.
• Reduced activity also reduces muscle strength, joint structure and functioning, thus predisposing the person to diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis where bones become brittle and fragile.
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle reduces the brain activity making the person less reactive which in turn hinders the individuals work progress. Lack of sufficient work progress makes the person depressed.
• Individuals who lead a sedentary lifestyle from childhood develop high blood pressure at a very early age.
• Individuals who lead a sedentary lifestyle do not love to socialize much and remain at home all the time glued to the couch.
There aren’t any pros for a sedentary lifestyle. One thing that helps people when thinking of changing is to list the benefits and costs of changing or continuing their current behavior. Some of the pros and cons of leading an active lifestyle are listed below.
• Look better
• Feel better physically
• More self confidence
• Sleep better
• More active with friends
• Much more productive at home and work

Costs:
• Have to buy shoes and other equipment
• Could get injured
• Can take away time with family

• More easily stressed
• More cranky
• Weight gain
• Feel embarrassed about how I look
• I eat more and drink more
• Can’t be as active with the kids
• Am worried about my health and longevity
• Not as productive at work
According to the facts obviously an active lifestyle is the best. So in order to keep in shape basically eat right and exercise. Don’t eat junk food eat fruits and vegetables. Don’t play video games, watch TV, or be on the computer for too long. Instead do something like a sport or a workout. There shouldn’t be an excuse of why you are not active because there are many activities you could do. So be healthy and be smart.