Understanding Obesity
Topic Highlights
● Obesity is an abnormal high proportion of body fat as a result of consuming too many calories and is a major contributor to chronic and debilitating diseases.
● This visual presentation provides information on the measurement of BMI, what causes obesity, risk factors, and complications arising from obesity.
Transcript
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions; the number is increasing faster in developing countries than in the developed world. Obesity affects virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups and is not restricted to industrialized societies. More than a cosmetic concern, it is a major contributor to chronic disease and disability.
Obesity is an abnormally high proportion of body fat and is the result of consuming too many calories and expending too little energy by way of physical activity. Men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% body fat are considered obese. Energy balance is a homeostatic system and obesity is a malfunction of this system. The skinfold test in which a pinch of skin is precisely measured to determine the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer, is a simple method for measuring body fat.
Obesity is the result of eating too many calories and expending too little energy through physical activity. This imbalance in the intake and expenditure of energy makes the body store the excess energy in the form of fat. While some fat is beneficial because it provides insulation for the body, and can be used as an energy reserve, too much body fat can lead to many health risks. Mechanizations have brought about a lot of lifestyle changes, which are mainly sedentary.
● Energy-dense food and food eaten in large quantities, contribute to obesity.
● Risk of obesity is compounded by reduced physical activity.
● Obesity is not hereditary, but individuals with both parents who are obese have this predisposition.
● Calorie needs are reduced with aging. Diminished levels of physical activities and reduced rate of metabolism tend to contribute to obesity with increasing age.
● Some medications like corticosteroids, antidepressants, some high blood pressure and antipsychotic drugs can cause weight gain.
● Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to obesity.
● Medical conditions like arthritis that promote inactivity are a risk factor.
● Patients with hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and post-menopausal women are susceptible to excessive weight gain.
● Some women tend to gain excessive weight after childbirth.
● Nicotine from cigarettes raises metabolic rate, and smokers are at risk when they quit smoking. Quitting can also increase appetite.
● Psychological factors like stress, boredom and depression tend to lead to eating binges.
● Women are more prone to being overweight and obese than men.
Obese individuals are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. These conditions may include high blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of blood cholesterol, coronary artery disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease and gout. Obese women are at greater risk of developing cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries and gallbladder. Obese men can develop colon, rectum and prostate cancers.
The BMI chart gives an indication of the weight loss target for each individual. Dietary changes would be required to suit individual needs. The food pyramid is a good indicator of low calorie healthy foods. Consciously reducing high fat foods and keeping a daily tab on the amount and types of food eaten can also reduce caloric intake. Crash diets can lead to serious health problems and consulting a doctor before embarking on any weight loss program is advisable.
An increase in physical activity to burn excess calories is a must for any weight reduction to happen. Physical activities such as walking, jogging, cycling to work, climbing stairs rather than using the elevator or doing household chores are as good as structured exercise.
Prescription medications to lose weight may be useful only for those who can gain significant health advantage by losing lots of weight. Liposuction, where fat cells under the skin are sucked out through a tube, is essentially a cosmetic surgery and not a weight loss plan. Weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery may be advised for those with BMI more than 40, or, for those with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 and for those who suffer from serious chronic conditions. In reality, the only treatment for obesity is to reduce weight.
● BMI or Body Mass Index is a screening measurement that helps identify weight problems, and is a good indicator of obesity.
● BMI is calculated by a simple formula using the weight and height of an individual.
● BMI limits have been established for classification into categories of obese and overweight.
● A BMI of 30.0 and above indicates obesity.
● Central obesity is indicative of high levels of abdominal fat and is measured either by the absolute waist circumference, or by waist to hip ratio.
● Visceral fat or central obesity has a stronger correlation especially along with cardiovascular diseases, than BMI alone.