Hydrotherapy & Aquatic Equipment for Weight Loss

Overview of Weight-Loss

Australia, unfortunately, has one of the highest instances of overweight and obesity in the world. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2 in 3 (67%) Australians aged 18+ were overweight or obese (36% overweight and 31% obese). That's approximately 12.5 million adults in Australia.

Being overweight significantly increases your overall risk of developing several chronic diseases and conditions, including:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Some types of cancer 

• Sleep apnoea 

Being overweight or obese can have detrimental impacts on your health. It is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide and is a significant risk factor for many incurable chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

Being overweight can also lead to psychological problems such as low self-esteem, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder.

The most affected by being statistically overweight are those who are classed as obese. Obesity is broadly defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. As a result, these people are at a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, orthopedic problems in the knees, hips, lower back, ankles, and certain types of cancer.

Water workouts are an effective strategy due to the buoyant weightlessness nature of water. It allows you to move and work out to shed those extra kgs without stressing the body or putting pressure on your joints. When combined with a healthy diet, results can be significant. If you are considered overweight or obese, it is essential to talk to your doctor about holistic ways to lose weight safely.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a recognised medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may start to have a detrimental effect on a person's overall health. People are often considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) is over 30; the range 25–30 is defined as overweight. 

Obesity dramatically increases the prevalence of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. 

Obesity is often caused by a combination of excessive calorie intake, lack of physical activity, and sometimes, genetic factors.  A few cases are caused independently and primarily by genes, endocrine disorders, medications, or mental illness. The idea that obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is not wholly supported.

On average, obese people have a 50% higher death rate than people who weigh within the normal range.

Who is more likely to suffer from being overweight or obese?

It is a complex issue with no single cause for obesity and many contributing factors, including factors relating to our environment, genetics, and food convenience. 

One of the most prominent contributors to obesity is our modern lifestyle. We have adopted new eating habits and ways of living that have led to an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals.

However, certain people may be more predisposed to being overweight.

People who live with or near others who are overweight or obese

This is a fascinating factor. Studies have shown that those who live in environments where others are overweight or obese are more likely to become so.  This could mean that living in an environment that is heavy with calories is enticing to those who are trying to lose weight. However, living near others who are overweight or obese is not great for one's health.

People who are employed in a sedentary role

Studies have shown that people employed in jobs that do not allow them to be outside for long periods are more likely to become overweight or obese. This could mean that the monotony of a sedentary role could be detrimental to weight concerns.

People who are over 30 years old and unable to change their lifestyle

Many of the people who are overweight or obese are those in their 30s and 40s. Research has shown that genetics is the most significant factor behind obesity in this age group. Other factors, such as our modern lifestyle, are minor contributors. People in their 30s and 40s who cannot change their lifestyle are at a high risk of obesity.

Genetics

Genes are our biological codes. They determine how our bodies look and function. Specific genes may lead to obesity, while others may help prevent it. People who are obese may have a genetic predisposition to being heavy. However, this doesn't mean that you will automatically become obese because your relatives are overweight.  Obesity is a complex condition that is shaped by a variety of factors.

Poverty

People who grow up in poverty are more likely to become obese.  Poverty is both a cause and an overall consequence of obesity. It can cause a person to become overweight or lead obese people to have less healthcare access.

Lack of physical activity
Physical activity is essential to a healthy weight.  We don't just use calories while sitting at a desk or watching television. When we sit still, our bodies use stored energy from our food to stay alive. So even when we are sitting, our bodies still burn calories.  The only way to increase the number of calories you burn is to move the body more.

Symptoms of Weight-Loss

The Australian statistics highlight the severity of the epidemic of being overweight or obese and how important it is to know the symptoms of being fat so you can start to make positive changes. Understanding your weight can help you make the right changes for a healthier life. 

Below are some common symptoms of being overweight or obese.

Changes in your appearance

If you have gained weight, you may notice that your belly looks bigger, your face looks rounder, and your arms and legs look thicker. Excess fat is stored as deep as your organs to the subcutaneous layers around the face, abdomen, limbs, and joints. This isn't a permanent change for some people, so don't despair! You can make a healthy change by losing the extra fat around the abdomen and the face by increasing your physical activity and decreasing your calories. 

Discomfort in your extremities

If you have excess weight on your limbs, you may experience discomfort in your hands and feet or orthopaedic pain and injury. This is because the blood flow to your limbs decreases as the amount of fat increases.

Cravings for the 'bad' foods

Another sign that you may be overweight is that you feel satisfied for a short time when you eat, but then you feel hungry again. This is because you are eating too many calories from processed foods with high sugar and fat content. 

You have a bad back or knees

If you have arthritis in your back or knees, you may also be overweight or obese. When you are obese, your joints are constantly compressed by your extra weight. This can cause joint pain in the primary load-bearing joints, where you may have problems walking, climbing stairs, and sitting down. Weight loss can relieve the excess pressure on your bones, making them less likely to break decreasing the risk of orthopaedic injuries.

You get out of breath easily

Obesity is linked to breathlessness on exertion because when a person is obese, they have more fat tissue, which requires more oxygen to maintain. This can lead to acute shortness of breath and difficulty breathing during physical activity. Additionally, obesity can also cause or worsen other respiratory conditions such as asthma and sleep apnea. Suppose you are obese and experience any breathlessness. In that case, it is essential to see a doctor so that they can determine the underlying cause and provide treatment.

Water Therapy & Weight-Loss

Exercising in water is beneficial for those people who are overweight and obese as water has a higher density compared to land, which makes it easier to move in the water and the buoyancy provides a weight-less enviornment.

It can help Joint Pain

Water is a great tool to help with joint pain, flexibility, and overall fitness. Water is far easier on your joints than land. The water provides resistance, which helps improve muscle strength, and the buoyancy of the water helps reduce the amount of weight-bearing on the joints. This can help to decrease pain and improve the range of motion.

It can help with Weight Loss

Exercising in water can help with weight loss by increasing the number of calories you burn. 

When you exercise in water, your body has to work harder to move through the water. This resistance causes your body to use more energy and increase the calorie burn. As a result, it has a greater and faster burn rate than the same movement on land. In addition, water exercise can help increase muscle mass, leading to weight loss.

The turbulence of the water creates an unstable environment, which makes the core muscles work hard to maintain balance and stability in the water. This makes the water an excellent environment for strengthening the core and stabilising muscles and improving balance.

It can help with your Respiratory Efforts

Exercising in water can help to strengthen your respiratory system by improving your lung capacity and efficiency. 

When you exercise in water, your body has to work harder to get its oxygen. This forces your lungs to expand and contract more deeply, which can help to increase their efficiency. 

Additionally, the resistance of the water provides an excellent workout for your chest and abdominal muscles, which can also help improve your respiratory function.

It can help with exercising with Minimal Discomfort

Exercising in water is a superb way to stay fit and healthy. It can also help you exercise with minimal discomfort. 

Water provides resistance, which can help to tone your muscles and improve your cardiovascular health. 

It is also a low-impact activity, which is gentle on your joints and bones.

It can help improve your Body Confidence

There are numerous health benefits to exercising in water, including improved appearance. 

Your skin will appear firmer and more toned when you exercise in water. The water provides resistance, which helps tone your muscles, and the hydrostatic pressure smoothes and polishes the skin.

In addition, the water can help to improve your circulation and give your skin a healthy glow.

Water Therapy Equipment & Weight-Loss

An Aqua Bike is a bike made especially for water that can help weight management. It enables high-intensity exercise, high fat burn with minimal discomfort.

The Hydrorider AquaBike has a deep long flywheel paddle that enables the most resistance available in the water. The water resistance is engaged with speed. It allows you to grow at your pace. As you gain strength and push faster, you encounter more resistance. 

The Hydrorider flywheel propels a rotation, and the momentum combined with the ease of movement in the water helps you to keep going. When riding the Hydrorider, people always say they do more than they could on land. This helps with fast calorie burning in the water. Music and a fun group environment make the time fly and a pleasurable way to lose weight.

Aqua cycling can help with obesity-related respiratory problems by providing a low-impact workout that helps to improve cardiovascular endurance.

Cycling in water is a great way to help with obesity-related exercise discomfort and anxiety. The exercise's low-impact nature helps reduce stress on the joints, while the water resistance helps tone muscles and burn calories. Under the water, you can exercise without being seen or worrying about the challenge or coordination with larger limbs.

There are many ways aqua cycling can help with body confidence in overweight people. First, it can help tone and sculpt the body, making people feel more confident about their appearance. Additionally, aqua cycling is a great way to socialize and meet new people, which can also help to boost body confidence.

An Aqua Treadmill is a brilliant piece of aqua equipment that helps the manageability of your weight. It enables exercise with minimal pain and discomfort during and after the workout. Many suffering from obesity find walking on land a challenge. Walking in water is more manageable and helps build strength and endurance while also losing weight. An Aquatic treadmill allows continual movement which increases the benefits over a static pool environment. You can continue to walk/run, rather than stop and turn around at the end of the pool, which slows momentum and calorie burn.

Note: Please seek medical advice before exercising & always train under the advice your medical specialist.