Most people are mindful of the risks that being overweight can present. Virtually all of us have been given facts on how being overweight can badly harm our bodies. Most of the data given regarding obesity usually centers on the dangers to internal organs. And when we consider internal bodily functions, on the list of major risks in being over weight is the occurrence of high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a main component of lipids, or fat, found within the blood. It is transported by proteins, one type of which are called LDL, or low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins are commonly known as bad cholesterol due to its correlation with blood vessel disorders. The higher the levels of LDL, the higher the chances for circulatory problems including heart disease and stroke.
High LDL levels can be an inherited trait, but are more likely to be brought about by diet. People who eat foods heavy in saturated fats in particular are more inclined to have higher LDL levels than people who consume only moderate or small amounts of saturated fats. Despite the fact that having excess weight does not automatically mean you get it from fatty foods, after a while continuous consumption of these foods will result to weight gain. And it doesn’t matter if the cause of weight gain is from fatty foods or not, those who are fat usually have more bad cholesterol than their slimmer counterparts.
Those who are overweight normally do not have sufficient high-density lipoproteins (HDL), commonly known as good cholesterol, and their triglycerides are usually plenty. They may also have an abundance of bad cholesterol. In addition, being overweight raises the chances of getting hypertension and diabetes, which are both linked with cardiac problems.
People who are obese are suggested to have their cholesterol levels checked, and for them to stay on a healthy diet, more exercise, and to take anti-bad cholesterol medicines.
Losing weight if you are overweight can help lower LDL and is especially important for those with a cluster of risk factors that includes high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels, and being overweight with a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women).
Lose weight, if you need to. Losing just 5 lbs to 10 lbs (2.3 kg to 4.5 kg) can lower your cholesterol and triglycerides. Weight loss can prevent hypertension as well.
Daily exercise is advised to everybody. It can help raise HDL and lower LDL and is especially important for those with high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels.
Body mass is governed by what you eat and your way of life. Being too fat may possibly encourage heart and blood circulation problems when your body mass index is more than what is normal; 32% for females and 25% for males.
Increasing your body weight with lean muscle mass through body building and bulking up with protein may not cause a cholesterol problem, provided that those proteins are lean.
