Being overweight or obese is quickly becoming one of the world’s most critical health issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation which can cause health risks like heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. With over 4 million people dying every year due to obesity-related health issues, it is a severe issue and India is also deeply impacted. As per the National Family Health Survey-5, 6.4% women and 4% men aged 15-49 years in India are obese.
One of the main culprits behind obesity are foods that cause obesity. They are delicious, they are flavour-packed and you might love them--which proves that these foods that cause obesity are hidden in plain sight and consumed by a greater number of people. The thing about these foods that cause obesity is that they really fill you up and satiate you, which makes you believe that they are good to eat when hungry. The problem is these foods that cause obesity are actually nutritionally weak and consist of elements that lead to excessive weight gain.
So, given that foods that cause obesity are harmful to your health in the long run, the effort should be to cut them off or find substitutes that are healthy and tasty at the same time. Wondering what these foods that cause obesity are? Here’s a list you should check out.
Video credit: YouTube/Vibrant Varsha
Butter
Butter is a high-fat dairy product that is loaded with calories. The fat in butter is saturated fat, and the American Heart Association (AHA) considers it to not only be one of the foods that cause obesity but also one that may increase your risk of heart diseases. So, cutting off butter is recommended—or sparing use of the same if you absolutely must. Healthy substitutes for this ingredient are olive oil and butters sourced from nuts and seeds.
Ice Cream
Did you know why the best ice creams in the world taste so good? It is simply because they are made with high-fat milk and loads of sugar, not to mention artificial flavours and more sugary toppings like chocolate chips, candies, etc. Even if you opt for low-fat ice creams, chances are that the combined effects of the sugar, the milk and the toppings can still cause weight gain. So, it’s best to avoid ice creams and switch to other frozen desserts like popsicles.
Fried Food
Whether we talk about pakodas and samosas or French fries and doughnuts, the fact is that all types of fried food can lead to weight gain and obesity. Packed with saturated fat as well trans fats, which are even worse, all kinds of fried foods can cause obesity. What’s more, they can also cause high cholesterol, diabetes, metabolic disorders and heart disease. So, cut them off or make them in air fryers or ovens.
Packaged Juice
Sure packaged juices taste great and make for satiating drinks during summers. But the fact is that packaged juices, no matter how much the label says “100% natural fruit juice”, are loaded with sugar, artificial flavours and sweeteners, and preservatives. Sugar itself is something that leads to weight gain, but when combined with the other ingredients, it does lead to obesity.
Sweets
Sweets and desserts are made primarily with sugar. Need we go on? If we must then you should know that most sweets are not only made with sugar, which causes obesity, but also with other ingredients that may cause harm. Jalebi, for example is both fried and sugary. Kheer and other milk-based desserts are usually made with high-fat milk. So, it is best to cut off sugar if you are overweight or at risk of obesity.
Soda
Packed with calories, sugar, carbon dioxide and artificial flavours, soda of all types have been proved to be very harmful for health. Soda is definitely one of the top foods that cause obesity, especially for kids. The problem with soda, no matter which brand you consume, is that it is so loaded with calories that even those who exercise regularly are barely able to burn them. The presence of carbon dioxide also slows the body down as it is an element we are not supposed to have any intake of.
Processed Food
Whether it is cheese or meat or snacks, processed food is packed with multiple ingredients that make it one of the biggest foods that cause obesity. An excess of sodium and fats is the hallmark of all processed food. What’s more, plenty of preservatives are also added to it to increase shelf life. So, processed food should be cut off from your diet if you have obesity. Instead, go for homemade of freshly made foods.