Obesity is a serious problem that's affecting millions of people. This has been known for some time, with bad health habits leading many people to become overweight and fall into the category of obese. There are countless studies explaining the health implications of obesity, with a high risk of heart conditions and other health issues for people who are excessively overweight.
If you are clinically obese, you need to start losing weight to take care of your health. The question is, when you reach a certain size, is it safe for you to start exercising? Your body isn't used to so much physical activity, so are there things you should be worried about?
The answer is both yes and no. Technically, it is safe for someone with obesity to begin an exercise program. The caveat is that you need to be extra cautious as the risks of health complications are greatly increased due to the extra weight you're carrying. As a result, the main question isn't whether or not it's safe to start exercising, it's what can you do to make exercise safer when you're obese?
Start Very Slow
Don't throw yourself into the deep end right away, as this is a recipe for disaster. Instead, start slow and steady, easing your body into exercise. Simply being active and walking will help you burn calories as your body uses up a lot of energy to fuel you. Going from being sedentary to walking every day will instantly have an impact and help you gradually build your cardiovascular endurance without pushing your heart to its limits.
As you start to lose weight, you can slowly increase the intensity of your sessions. Go from a slow walk to a brisk one, gradually moving towards a light jog. Start using light weights for some resistance training, and make them heavier as you start to feel fitter.
Consider Surgery
A lot of obese individuals will undergo surgery before they start an exercise routine. As you can see on drgovindkrishna.com.au, common surgeries include a gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve. Effectively, these surgeries help you lose a lot of weight in a short space of time. The idea is that you are lowering your body mass to a safer level, so less stress is placed on your hearts and joints while you exercise. Not everyone needs surgery, but it may be a consideration if you are very overweight.
Drink A Lot Of Water
Dehydration is a major worry for people with obesity while working out. You are likely to sweat more than the average person as your body mass increases your temperature. Therefore, you need to sweat a lot to cool down, meaning you lose a lot of fluids. Replenishing these while exercising is essential, so be sure you are constantly drinking a lot of water - and perhaps take some electrolyte tablets after as well.
Working out is one of the only ways you can tackle obesity and start losing weight. Nevertheless, you need to understand the possible risks involved with working out when you're excessively overweight. Address these, and you will make your workouts safer.
