Female hormones to blame for obesity in Western men?

Obesity among Western men could be linked with exposure to substances containing the female sex hormone estrogen according to new research from the University of Adelaide. Medical student James Granth

By: Editorial Team | | Published: June 17, 2014 5:43 pm

Obesity among Western men could be linked with exposure to substances containing the female sex hormone estrogen according to new research from the University of Adelaide. Medical student James Grantham, who conducted the research compared the obesity rates among men and women from around the world with measures such as Gross Domestic Product to determine the impact of affluence on obesity. Grantham said that in the Western world, such as in the United States, Europe and Australia, the rates of obesity between men and women were much closer and in some Western nations, male obesity was greater than female obesity. (Read: Obesity killing millions around the world every year!) Also Read - Hormones you are born with can lead to lifetime risk of immunological diseases

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Professor Henneberg said that exposure to estrogen was known to cause weight gain, primarily through thyroid inhibition and modulation of the hypothalamus and soy products contained xenoestrogens, and they were concerned that in societies with a high dietary saturation of soy, such as the United States, this could be working to ‘feminize’ the males. The study is published in the online journal PLOS ONE. (Read: World Obesity Day 2013: Fat ain’t fit) Also Read - 7 reasons why the #BeefBan is good

How to reduce obese weight?

The best idea would be to join a gym where you can get proper guidance from a trainer who can motivate you enough to lose weight. It’s also a good idea to scour the internet and find out everything you can about weight loss but make sure you stay away from the cons they’ll be the ones promising to help you lose weight without too much effort. Here are some cardiovascular exercises to get you started:

Walking

If you’re using a treadmill, start off with a pace of 5km/h and try and walk for 15 minutes. Gradually you can increase the speed but make sure you’re walking and not jogging as that sort of intensity can hurt your joints and your injured ankle. A better idea is to gradually increase the inclination which doesn’t put that much pressure on the ankle and helps you burn more calories in less time. Read how walking can help you lose weight

Swimming

Swimming is another great way to lose weight without putting pressure on your joints. You might be a bit wary thinking people will make fun of your big size. Don’t worry about it and pretend like no one’s there. However, swimming isn’t as effective as burning calories as brisk walking, gym rowing, cycling or the elliptical trainer. Read how to lose weight by swimming

Elliptical Trainer

The elliptical trainer is a godsend for people with joint injuries because of its low impact movement. It can also simulate various movements like running, stair-climbing, walking et al without putting too much pressure on your joints and also help work the upper body as well. Read how to use an elliptical trainer properly

Cycling

Another great way to burn off calories if you can’t run is through cycling or indoor cycling. Most gyms have two kinds of cycles either electronic ones with padded seats or mechanical ones that look like proper bikes. The second option might be a tad uncomfortable to begin with for someone who’s fat so you should start off with the first kind, but do the move the mechanical ones once you’re comfortable because they’re usually more effective at burning calories. Read more about how to reduce obese weight?

With inputs from ANI

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Published : June 17, 2014 5:43 pm

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