Obesity is a medical condition in which body fat is in excess. The fat gets accumulated to such an extent that it becomes harmful for the person. People are called obese if their body mass index (BMI) is above 30kg/m2. BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of the person with the square of the height of the person. Obesity further increases the chances of having some severe conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea along with different types of cancer.
Obesity may be caused by excessive eating, little to no physical activity and having a family history of the same. In some cases, endocrine disorders, mental disorders and medications can also lead to obesity. Obesity has a long-term effect on physical, social and emotional health of a person. People with obesity are at a greater risk of having other health conditions like asthma, and bone and joint problems. Children with obesity are teased and bullied more than their counterparts. Because of this condition, there is a greater susceptibility of them to suffer from depression, low self-esteem and unable to form long-lasting friendships and other relationships. Childhood obesity is related to having obesity in adulthood.
More than a third of individuals in the U.S. have obesity. Around 1 in 6 children in the U.S. are obese, and nearly 17% of children in the age range of 2-19 suffer from obesity. Approximately 12.5% of the American preschoolers are obese. However, rates of obesity are falling gradually as people are becoming more conscious about their own and children’s health.
As a matter of fact, obesity is associated with more than 60 types of chronic diseases. If facts are to be believed, obesity is among the top five leading causes of death around the globe. It has been known to cause around 2.8 million deaths every year in the U.S. with the health care costs for dealing with obesity stand at whopping 147 billion USD. Usually, adults in the age range of 40-59 have the greatest likelihood of being obese. More than 40% of adults in this age range and a third of individuals above the age of 60 are obese in the U.S.
Men are more likely to be obese as compared to women. Around 40% of women in America are obese, whereas nearly 35% of American men have obesity. As of now, Americans eat 23% more calories than the consumption back in 1970s. Also, obese people miss working more often than non-obese people.
Depending on the area, where fat gets deposited, there are three different types of obesity:
According to its relationship with other diseases, it is broadly classified as:
As per the number and size of fat cells, obesity can be further classified as:
Following are some common symptoms associated with obesity:
Obesity can lead to changes that one does not notice. It can affect health and could lead to or could be caused by conditions like high blood pressure or hypertension and high cholesterol. These could considerably increase the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
Several factors can lead to obesity like lifestyle choices (lack of physical activity, little sleep), medical conditions (hypothyroidism, PCOD) and genetics (heredity). Obesity happens as a result of the consumption of more calories than what one needs. Excess calories are stored as fat. The following factors have been discussed in detail:
Obesity is a condition in which excess fat accumulates in the body. The fat does not burn off at a rate faster than its storage. It can sometimes be confused with Prader-Willi syndrome. This is because even in Prader Will Syndrome, a person tends to overeat. He/she has an excessive appetite, which can lead to weight gain to the alarming level.
Similarly, unexpected weight gain or obesity can also be caused by some other conditions like hypothyroidism and PCOD or maybe a side effect of any medicine. Thus, for proper diagnosis of the condition, one must consult the doctor.
Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and participating in too little physical activity. Poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices can also be probable causes of this condition. If one consumes high-calorie foods, especially fast foods and processed foods rich in fats and sugars, and does not burn them off through physical activities, then the excess energy gets stored as fat in the body.
An average man, who is physically active needs about 2500 calories in a day for maintaining proper and healthy weight. Likewise, an average woman, who is physically active needs about 2000 calories per day. However, the issue is that most people are not active physically, so the entire consumption gets stored in the form of fat in various body parts.
Heavy drinkers are also known to develop obesity over time; hence, a causative factor for obesity. If a person is drinking soft drinks with loads of sugar content, then it may also result in obesity. Sometimes, depressed people may indulge in eating too much, which is called comfort eating. This may also be a reason for obesity.
In the last two decades, lack of physical activity has emerged as one of the leading causes of obesity. Most people are involved in jobs that require sitting for the maximum fraction of the day. And when they get time, instead of exercising, they spend their time browsing the net and using computers.
Besides, obesity can have a genetic basis as well. Family has a crucial role to play in obesity. Certain traits inherited from parents like having huge appetite can make weight loss a more difficult task for some people
In order to prevent obesity, the following steps can be taken:
In case one’s Body Mass Index (BMI) shows that he/she is in the range of obesity, then the doctor may recommend the following tests and physical examination.
The first and foremost goal of obesity treatment is weight loss – around 3-5% of the total body weight. So, it means, if one is weighing 90 kilograms one needs to lose only 6-10 pounds for the health to start to improve. Treatment methods that can be used depending on the level of obesity, overall health and participation in the weight-loss program.
1. Dietary Changes: In order to overcome obesity, one must consider reducing the intake of calories and practicing healthier eating habits. If a person has lost weight quickly, then the chances of putting it on are higher than someone, who has lost weight slowly and gradually over a longer duration. One must avoid diets like crash diet as these do not help in keeping you from gaining weight. Dietary changes include the following for treatment of obesity:
2. Exercise: Increasing physical activity is very important for treating obesity. Overweight or obese people need to indulge in at least two and a half hours of physical activity daily. To achieve a considerable amount of weight loss, the time spent in exercising must be increased. Once you get accustomed to exercising, you can increase the time spent and reap more benefits. Prepare a schedule so that you are able to easily incorporate activities like walking and exercising. Use a pedometer to keep track of how many steps you walk each day.
3. Behavioral Changes: One must carefully analyze which factors like stresses and lifestyle habits lead to obesity. Behavior modification can include the following:
4. Prescription Medicines for Weight Loss: Exercise and dietary modifications help in losing weight. However, if the above strategies don’t work, prescription weight-loss medicines can be opted. Also, it must be borne in mind that medications for weight loss work only with diet, exercise and behavioral changes. Medicines won’t work if changes in other aspects are not made.
Commonly prescribed weight-loss medications include orlistat, lorcaserin, phentermine and topiramate, bupropion, naltrexone and liraglutide. Medical monitoring is required while taking prescription medicines. Also, these medicines may not work for everyone. When one stops taking the medicines, much of the lost weight may soon return.
5. Weight Loss Surgery: Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is another viable option. Weight-loss surgery limits food intake, and decreases the absorption of food and calories. Weight-loss surgery should be considered only after all other methods have failed. Surgery will be successful only when one is committed to make the necessary changes in eating and exercising habits.
Some common weight loss surgery methods are discussed below:
6. Other Treatments: “Vagal nerve blockade therapy” is yet another treatment for weight loss. This technology has been approved by the FDA. It is particularly useful in those, who have not been able to lose weight by common weight-loss strategies discussed above and those, who have a BMI of 35-45 with the presence of one more condition like type 2 diabetes.
There are many drugs available over the counter without doctor’s prescription for the treatment of obesity.
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a common ingredient found in most of these over-the-counter medications. It is a precursor to a chemical in the brain, known as serotonin. It is associated with the regulation of food intake. It has been proved that intake of 5-HTP decreases the number of calories a person consumes in a day and helps in losing weight.
Citrus aurantium is another ingredient in several nonprescription, weight-loss products. Some studies have claimed that this must be avoided as it can lead to heart problems and high blood pressure.
Another ingredient of weight-loss OTC drugs is chitosan, which decreases fat absorption by binding to it. It acts as fiber by giving a feeling of fullness. It is derived from shellfish, so anybody allergic to shellfish must avoid it.
Likewise, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) helps shrinks fat tissues by causing fat cells to die. CLA supplements are extensively used for weight loss.
The following self-management strategies may be used for the management of obesity:
The following natural remedies for obesity would not just help you control obesity, but also allow you to maintain healthy mind and body:
To control obesity, do not skip meals. Eat a well-balanced diet with proper intake of vitamins and minerals. Do not snack up on unhealthy and junk food. Quit processed foods as these are full of preservatives, fats, salts and sugars. Also, it is recommended to bake stuff rather than fry.
Academician, Shelly's rich experience as an academic and research professional speaks volume. Her fields of interest are genetics, biotechnology and drug research. Shelly keeps herself abreast with latest scientific researches all around the globe and loves to write about the same.
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