Living a Fulfilling Life Starts with You. Many prioritise working long hours, waking up early, and returning home late. Even for those who finish earlier, social media often fills the void, leaving them feeling depressed.  While our routines can feel robotic, focused solely on earning a living, it’s crucial to prioritise ourselves.  Remember, being healthy and well-functioning is essential for effective work.

When asked about what their “health and wellness” means, most people might not have the right answer, and others might not even have a clue about what it actually means. Yet, this should be our centre, core, and source of energy. It should help us determine our state of mind and how to be better.

People often use the terms health and wellness interchangeably. Although a person cannot have one without the other, they are two different concepts with distinct meanings.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness).” In contrast, wellness is defined as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups,” and is expressed as “a positive approach to living.”

The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal, and wellness is the active process of achieving it. You cannot truly have health without first achieving wellness. Wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a robust, happy, and fulfilled life.

While you cannot always choose the state of your health, you can consciously choose wellness by living responsibly and taking proactive steps for your well-being.

Health comprises the diagnosis of a disease or illness, predisposition to a disease, and any unexpected injury. Wellness, on the other hand, is an active process of growth and change to reach your fullest health and well-being. It involves actively pursuing activities, making choices and lifestyle changes, controlling risk factors that can harm a person, focusing on nutrition, maintaining a balanced diet, and following spiritual practices that lead to holistic health.

The Global Rise of Obesity

March 4 was World Obesity Day, and according to several reports, obesity is on the rise globally. Efforts to address it are challenging due to misconceptions about obesity and its role in a person’s health.

The World Obesity Federation’s 2023 atlas predicts that 51 percent of the world, or more than four billion people, will be obese or overweight by 2035. Rates of obesity are rising particularly quickly among children and in lower-income countries.

Countries like Uganda have shown limited progress towards achieving the diet-related non-communicable disease (NCD) targets. About 10.4 percent of adult (aged 18 years and over) women and 2.3 percent of adult men are living with obesity in Uganda. Although Uganda’s obesity prevalence is lower than the regional average of 20.8 percent for women and 9.2 percent for men, it is one of the fastest growing health problems in Uganda and across the world, placing additional strain on medical resources.

Dr. Franklin Wasswa, a general practitioner, noted in one media interview that the most efficient way to determine if someone is overweight or obese is by calculating their Body Mass Index (BMI). This is an estimate of body fat that compares a person’s weight to their height. If your BMI is less than 18.5, you are underweight. If it is between 18.5 and 25, it falls within the healthy weight range. If your BMI is between 25.0 and 30, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, then you are obese. For children aged two years and older and for teens, BMI uses weight and height but also considers sex and age. Instead of using a specific number as in the BMI charts for adults, the BMI for children and teens is listed as a percent, indicating a child’s BMI in relation to the BMIs of other children of the same sex and age.

Factors Contributing to Obesity

Obesity occurs over time by consuming more calories than the body burns. The body stores the extra calories as fat. It affects both children and adults, and many factors can contribute to excess weight gain. These include eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines. Social determinants of health, genetics, and taking certain medications can also increase your risk of becoming obese.

Although obesity is typically related to poor diet and lack of exercise, it can also be triggered by medical issues, medications, and injuries. Some medical conditions can lead to weight gain by slowing your metabolism, increasing your appetite, or reducing your mobility. These may include insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, arthritis, menopause, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Psychological factors such as stress, boredom, sadness, or anger can also contribute to obesity because some people turn to food in response to such emotions and are sometimes diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED).

Achieving and Maintaining Optimal Weight

Achieving optimal weight requires maintaining a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Eating foods that are high in fibre and low in saturated fats, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, will help promote good health. Incorporating physical activities such as jogging, swimming, and cycling into a regular routine can help maintain an optimal weight and stay active.

Obesity increases the risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Additionally, being overweight can cause joint and bone problems due to wear and tear on the body. Overall, optimal weight is important for maintaining good health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Calculating your BMI is a good way to determine your optimal weight and make sure that you are staying within the healthy range.

Professional Guidance for Weight Loss

On a proven weight loss program, you can even lose up to 25kg in 90 days, and half your body weight in a year. It is easier to succeed when you have professional guidance and support, which is specifically tailored for you. Special packages to promote weight loss, including meals, can be expertly planned and provided.

It is important to note that the risk of health problems starts when someone is only very slightly overweight. The likelihood of these problems increases as one gains more weight. The complications cause long-term suffering for individuals and their families due to the costs involved in treatment.

Obesity is a consequence of unhealthy lifestyles. Preventing it depends on one’s ability to make positive healthy choices in their daily lives. People should to choose healthier foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, healthy fats and protein sources, and beverages. Limit the intake of unhealthy foods such as refined grains, artificial sugars, red meat, and processed meat, and beverages such as carbonated drinks.