Obesity is a medical condition in which a person’s body fat levels have accumulated to the point where they are potentially hazardous to their health. When a person’s body mass index exceeds 30 kg/m2, they are called obese.
Obesity has been associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cancer, and osteoarthritis, among other diseases.
Diet, physical activity, automation, genetic susceptibility, medications, endocrine disorders, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals are all factors that contribute to obesity in an individual.
Obesity prevention involves a broad approach that includes therapies for the community, family, and person. Dietary adjustments and exercise are the two main treatments recommended by doctors.
Here in this comprehensive guide, I will like to share detailed information so you can gain all the knowledge on obesity. This will help you overcome the disease and prevent some major health issues in the future.
What is Obesity?
Obesity is described as having an abnormally high level of body fat. It’s not the same as being overweight, which means weighing too much.
Obesity develops gradually when you consume more calories than you expend. Your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active are all factors that may affect your weight.
How to Know Your Obesity?
The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a method for determining whether or not a person is overweight or obese.
The BMI formula is straightforward. BMI is calculated as kg/m2, where kg is a person’s weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in meters squared.
- If your BMI count is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
- When your BMI value is between 18.5 and 25, you are in the healthy weight zone.
- If your BMI calculation is between 25.0 and 30, you are considered overweight.
- The term Obesity is confirmed when your Body Mass Index of 30.0 or higher.
Obesity is generally classified into the following categories:
- When your BMI comes in between 30 to 35 it is classified as Class 1.
- If a BMI value is 35 to 40 it is classified as Class 2.
When a BMI calculation comes of 40 or over it is classified as Class 3. Class 3 obesity is commonly referred to as “severe” obesity.
What is Body Mass Index?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that compares a person’s weight to his or her height. It’s more of a guide than a precise estimate of a person’s total body fat.
BMI is frequently associated with total body fat. This indicates that if a person’s BMI rises, so does their total body fat.
Healthcare workers use BMI to screen for overweight and obese people. The BMI is used to determine a person’s obesity and overweight health hazards.
Body Mass Index is a good indicator of obesity for the majority of people. However, BMI does not provide accurate data on body composition, such as the amount of muscle, bone, fat, and other tissues.
What are the Causes of Obesity?
Overeating and physical inactivity are the two most common causes of obesity. However, there are other factors that contribute to obesity. Let’s find it out.
Less Physical Activity:
People who are sedentary burn fewer calories compared to those who are more physically active.
You don’t use the energy provided by the food you eat if you aren’t active enough. The body stores the additional energy you consume as fat.
If you’re overweight and trying to reduce weight, you may need to increase your physical activity.
Excessive Eating Habit:
Obesity is a result of overeating, especially if your diet is high in fat. Fast food, fried food, and sweets, for example, are heavy in fat or sugar and have a high energy density.
These are foods that pack a lot of calories into a little package. Alcohol also has a high-calorie content, and heavy drinkers are more likely to be overweight.
Genetics:
When one or both parents are obese, their child is more prone to develop obesity. The Hormones Involved in controlling fat management are also affected by genetics.
Leptin is a hormone that regulates weight by instructing the brain to eat less when body fat levels are too high.
If leptin is unable to signal the brain to eat less for some reason, this control is lost, and obesity develops.
Consuming More Simple Carbohydrates:
Simple carbohydrates, such as sugars, fructose, sweets, soft drinks, beer, and so on, are thought to contribute to weight gain.
It is because they are absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream than complex carbohydrates.
Psychological Disturbance:
It is observed in many cases that emotions have an impact on some people’s eating habits.
Most obese people overeat in response to their negative feelings such as boredom, melancholy, tension, or rage.
Eating Frequency:
Some research studies have shown that those who eat four or five short meals per day had lower cholesterol and/or more stable blood sugar levels than those who eat less frequently (two or three large meals daily).
Small, frequent meals create stable insulin levels, whereas large meals cause substantial insulin surges after meals.
Medication:
Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and valproate are among the medications linked to weight gain.
Obesity is a side effect of several diabetes drugs, oral contraceptives, high blood pressure medications, and antihistamines.
Diseases:
Obesity is exacerbated by health conditions such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and Cushing’s syndrome.
Social Circumstances:
Obesity and socioeconomic issues have a connection. Obesity can be compounded by the lack of funds to purchase nutritious foods or a lack of safe locations to walk or exercise.
As I stated initially, obesity is associated with some fatal health issues. Let’s see how obesity impacts your overall health.
What are the Health Issues Associated with Obesity?
Obesity is a risk factor, but it does not guarantee that you will suffer the following health issues.
However, it raises your odds of getting one or more of them. Here are ten obesity-related health hazards and what you can do to avoid or manage them.
Type 2 Diabetes:
Obesity increases one’s chances of having type 2 diabetes. Obesity can lead to insulin resistance, a hormone that is necessary for blood sugar management.
When the body develops insulin resistance, sugar absorption in the blood is reduced or absent, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing merely 5 to 7% of your body weight.
High Blood Pressure:
Obesity or being overweight can cause high blood pressure in a variety of ways.
When a person’s body weight rises, the circulatory system has to work harder to circulate blood around the body.
The extra strain on the walls of your arteries is caused by the increased amount of blood circulating. High BP, often known as hypertension, is the result of this additional pressure.
Heart Disease:
Obese people have a tenfold increased risk of having heart disease compared to non-obese people.
Obese people are more likely to develop atherosclerosis (artery hardening) and coronary artery disease as a result of fatty deposits and plaque formation in the arteries.
Obesity raises LDL and triglyceride levels, both of which lead to heart disease.
Sleep Apnea:
Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disease marked by repeated sleep interruptions lasting 10 seconds or longer.
Obesity is the most common cause of sleep apnea development. The soft tissue in the mouth and throat develops as a result of being overweight.
People with an accumulation of fat in the neck and trunk are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.
Different Types of Cancers:
Obesity raises your chances of developing malignancies such as breast, colon, gallbladder, pancreatic, kidney, and prostate.
As well as cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, and ovaries can be developed because of obesity.
Bone Joint Problems:
Even a small change in your weight can have an impact on bone and joint health. Being overweight can cause joint problems in two ways.
To begin with, excess weight can place more stress on weight-bearing joints (such as the knees), leading to increased wear and tear.
Second, the inflammatory processes linked to obesity can cause joint difficulties and lead to illnesses such as osteoarthritis.
Psychological Effects:
Obesity can have a negative impact on one’s mental health in addition to causing chronic diseases.
Obese persons frequently experience feelings of inadequacy in a culture where being thin and slim is objectified as the optimal or ideal body type.
Low self-esteem, anxiety, and sadness are some of the psychological disorders that can arise as a result of being overweight.
Pregnancy Complications:
Insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure are all more prevalent in obese pregnant women.
This can put you at greater risk of difficulties during your pregnancy and delivery.
Heavier bleeding than usual after delivery, early birth, and miscarriage are some of the issues a pregnant woman may face.
Consult your doctor about the types of physical activities that are safe to conduct while pregnant.
Liver Disease:
Obese people might develop fatty liver disease, which is a type of liver disease.
This occurs when the liver becomes clogged with fat. Cirrhosis is a condition in which excess fat damages the liver or causes scar tissue to form.
The fatty liver disease normally has no symptoms, but it can develop into liver failure if left untreated.
Losing weight and avoiding alcohol consumption are the only ways to reverse or manage the condition.
Gallbladder Disease:
Gallstones are more likely to form if you are obese. Gallstones form when bile piles up in the gallbladder and solidifies.
Obese people may have greater cholesterol levels in their bile or have big, inefficient gallbladders, which can lead to gallstones.
Gallstones can be avoided by eating a diet rich in fiber and healthy fats.
What are the Best Obesity Treatments Available?
Obesity management entails a mix of lifestyle adjustments, dietary alterations, and increased physical activity over time.
Your doctor may recommend prescription drugs or surgery to help you reduce weight, in addition to a commitment to a better lifestyle.
Learn which diets and treatments work and which ones you should avoid.