Obesity is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than those of people who are not obese. And high blood sugar levels mean high oxidative stress.

Obesity, Blood Sugar and Oxidative Stress

What happens to the body when blood sugar levels are high?

Blood glucose is the glucose produced by the breakdown of carbohydrates. This glucose is converted into energy for human activity in the organelles called mitochondria in the body’s cells, but if there is more glucose in the blood than necessary, the mitochondria, which are supposed to produce energy, will not be able to do their job.

Mitochondria produce energy for human activity from the proteins (amino acids) and fats (oils) we eat, but they also use the oxygen we take into our bodies to produce energy. However, if the mitochondria are not doing their job, the oxygen is not used, the function of the mitochondria deteriorates, and the oxygen that is not used properly becomes reactive oxygen species that rust the body.

This is why high blood sugar levels increase oxidative stress in the body. Therefore, it can be said that high blood sugar level = high oxidative stress.

How to improve obesity?

Obesity is a state of relatively high blood glucose and oxidative stress, so it is necessary to lower oxidative stress and blood glucose at the same time to improve obesity.

So, what are the specific ways to lower the blood sugar level? 

One is to stop taking carbohydrates that increase blood sugar levels. The other is to exercise. By doing these two things, obesity will improve rapidly.

How to Exercise for Obesity

When it comes to exercise, jogging is one of the most popular. It is said that running a long distance for several kilometers every day is actually not very good.

In addition, many people go for a walk as a light exercise, but even in this case, walking slowly and gingerly is not a good way to exercise. This is because humans are originally animals that can walk normally.

So what kind of exercise is effective against obesity?

The following is a disclosure of some of the evidence-based exercise methods that are effective for obesity. The first is to increase your stride length and walk at a speed that you think is “pretty fast”.  If you do this, you will gradually start to sweat. It is recommended that you do this kind of exercise for a distance of three to four kilometers, and two or three times a week.

It is also good to use a machine for muscle training, but in that case, it is better to use a load that you can move sufficiently and do it a little more often, rather than applying a very excessive load.

Finally.

Obesity is a condition that causes high blood sugar levels and increased oxidative stress. It also increases the probability of developing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes. What is scary about diabetes is that it can cause various complications due to the continued high oxidative stress. In order to achieve a long and healthy life, I think it is important to improve our existing lifestyle by improving our diet and exercise.