Obesity
Condition of abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue,
to extent that health may be impaired.
- Obesity is a disease characterized by excessive body fat.
- Overweight and obesity now affects 65% of adults or 122 million
people.
- Obesity which is a BMI of > 30 has increased to 31% of adults
up from 23%.
What Causes Overweight and Obesity?
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Energy imbalance over a long period of time.
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Energy in > Energy out.
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Excess calories and lack of physical activity.
Other causes:
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An Inactive Lifestyle
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Environment
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Genes and Family History
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Health Conditions
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Medicines
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Emotional Factors
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Age
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Pregnancy
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Lack of Sleep
Mortality
The following factors have been shown to increase mortality in
individuals:
1.
Excess body weight
2. Regional fat distribution
3. Weight gain patterns
4. Sedentary Lifestyle
- Associated with Obesity:
Individuals who are obese are at a greater risk of developing:
A. Obstructive sleep apnea
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Cardiovascular disorders
D. Gastrointestinal disorders
E. Metabolic disorders
F. Endometrial, prostate and breast cancers
G. Complications of pregnancy
H. Menstrual irregularities
I. Psychological disorders
- Obese individuals are at a greater risk of developing these
cardiovascular disorders:
A. Hypertension
B. Stroke
C. Coronary Artery Disease
- Obese individuals are at greater risk of developing these
gastrointestinal disorders:
A. Colon Cancer
B. Gall stones
- Obese individuals are at greater risk of developing these metabolic
disorders:
A. Diabetes Mellitus
B. Dyslipidemia
C. Liver Disease
- Common hormonal abnormalities associated with obesity:
A. Increased cortisol production Insulin resistance
B. Decreased sex hormone-binding globulin in women
C. Decreased progesterone levels in women
D. Decreased testosterone levels in men
E. Decreased growth hormone
production
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How are obesity & overweight diagnosed?
Using Body Mass Index:
An adult’s BMI can be determined using a
BMI calculator External Web Site Policy . Health care providers use BMI ranges
to indicate a person's weight status. For adults, a BMI of:
18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight
25 to 29.9 is considered overweight
30 to 39.9 is considered obese
40 and higher is considered extremely obese
It is important to remember that although
BMI is generally a good way to estimate how much body fat a person has, it does
not measure body fat directly and therefore is not reliable in all cases. For
example, a person may weigh extra because he or she is athletic and has a lot
of muscle, and not because he or she has excess body fat.
BMI = Weight2 / kilogram
How Are Overweight and Obesity Treated?
1. Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes can help you and your family
achieves long-term weight-loss success. Example of lifestyle changes include:
·
Focusing on balancing energy IN (calories from food
and drinks) with energy OUT (physical activity)
·
Following a healthy eating plan
·
Learning how to adopt healthy lifestyle habits Over
time, these changes will become part of your everyday life.
2. Calories
Cutting
back on calories (energy IN) will help you lose weight. To lose 1 to 2 pounds a
week, adults should cut back their calorie intake by 500 to 1,000 calories a
day.
In general, having 1,000 to 1,200 calories
a day will help most women lose weight safely.
In general, having 1,200 to 1,600 calories
a day will help most men lose weight safely. This calorie range also is
suitable for women who weigh 165 pounds or more or who exercise routinely.
These calorie levels are a guide and may
need to be adjusted. If you eat 1,600 calories a day but don't lose weight,
then you may want to cut back to 1,200 calories. If you're hungry on either diet,
then you may want to add 100 to 200 calories a day.
Very low-calorie diets with fewer than 800
calories a day shouldn't be used unless your doctor is monitoring you.
For overweight children and teens, it's
important to slow the rate of weight gain. However, reduced-calorie diets
aren't advised unless you talk with a health care provider.
3. Healthy Eating Plan
A healthy eating plan gives your body the
nutrients it needs every day. It has enough calories for good health, but not
so many that you gain weight.
A healthy eating plan is low in saturated
fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugar. Following a
healthy eating plan will lower your risk for heart disease and other conditions.
Healthy foods include:
·
Fat-free and low-fat dairy products, such as low-fat
yogurt, cheese, and milk.
·
Protein foods, such as lean meat, fish, poultry
without skin, beans, and peas.
·
Whole-grain foods, such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal,
and brown rice. Other grain foods include pasta, cereal, bagels, bread,
tortillas, couscous, and crackers.
·
Fruits, which can be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried.
·
Vegetables, which can be fresh, canned (without salt),
frozen, or dried.
4. Foods to
limit
Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol raise
blood cholesterol levels and also might be high in calories. Fats and
cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease, so they should be limited.
5. Physical
Activity
Being physically active and eating fewer calories will help you lose
weight and keep weight off over time. Physical activity also will benefit you
in other ways. It will:
·
Lower your risk for heart disease, heart attack,
diabetes, and cancers (such as breast, uterine, and colon cancers)
·
Strengthen your heart and help your lungs work better
·
Strengthen your muscles and keep your joints in good
condition
·
Slow bone loss
·
Give you more energy
·
Help you relax and better cope with stress
·
Allow you to fall asleep more quickly and sleep more
soundly
·
Give you an enjoyable way to share time with friends
and family
6. Behavioral
Changes
Changing your behaviors or habits related to food and physical activity
is important for losing weight. The first step is to understand which habits
lead you to overeat or have an inactive lifestyle.
7. Weight-Loss
Medicines
Weight-loss medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
might be an option for some people.
If you're not successful at losing 1 pound a week after 6 months of
using lifestyle changes, medicines may help. You should only use medicines as
part of a program that includes diet, physical activity, and behavioral changes.
Weight-loss medicines might be suitable for adults who are obese (a BMI
of 30 or greater). People who have BMIs of 27 or greater, and who are at risk
for heart disease and other health conditions, also may benefit from
weight-loss medicines.
8. Weight-Loss
Surgery
Weight-loss surgery might be an option for people who have extreme
obesity (BMI of 40 or more) when other treatments have failed.
Weight-loss surgery also is an option for people who have a BMI of 35 or
more and life-threatening conditions, such as:
§
Severe sleep apnea (a condition in which you have one
or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep).
§
Obesity-related cardiomyopathy
(KAR-de-o-mi-OP-ah-thee; diseases of the heart muscle).
§
Severe type 2 diabetes
How Can Overweight and Obesity Be
Prevented?
Following a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent overweight and
obesity. Many lifestyle habits begin during childhood. Thus, parents and
families should encourage their children to make healthy choices, such as
following a healthy diet and being physically active.
Make following a healthy lifestyle a family goal. For
example:
v
Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthy food choices,
keep your calorie needs and your family's calorie needs in mind, and focus on
the balance of energy IN and energy OUT.
v
Focus on portion size. Watch the portion sizes in fast
food and other restaurants. The portions served often are enough for two or three
people. Children's portion sizes should be smaller than those for adults.
Cutting back on portion size will help you balance energy IN and energy OUT.
v
Be active. Make personal and family time active. Find
activities that everyone will enjoy. For example, go for a brisk walk, bike or
rollerblade, or train together for a walk or run.
v
Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs, computers,
DVDs, and videogames because they limit time for physical activity. Health
experts recommend 2 hours or less a day of screen time that's not work- or
homework-related.
v
Keep track of your weight, body mass index, and waist
circumference. Also, keep track of your children's growth.
References
1.
Obesity Diet and Physical Activity (Pennington Biomedical Research
Center Division of Education)
2.
National Institutes of Health NIH (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)
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