Definition
Obesity is a complex disorder involving an
excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It
increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease,
diabetes and high blood pressure.
Causes
Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through
exercise and normal daily activities. Your body stores these excess calories as
fat.
Obesity usually results from a combination of causes and
contributing factors, including:
- Genetic and hormonal influences
- Inactivity
- Unhealthy diet and eating
habits. Having a diet that's high in calories, lacking in fruits
and vegetables, full of fast food, missing breakfast, and laden with
high-calorie beverages and oversized portions all contribute to weight gain.
- Pregnancy.
- Lack of sleep.
- Certain medications.
- Medical problems. Obesity
can sometimes be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome,
Cushing's syndrome, and other diseases and conditions. Some medical problems,
such as arthritis, can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight
gain. A low metabolism is unlikely to cause obesity, as is having low thyroid
function.
Even if you have one or
more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to become
obese.
You
can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise,
and behavior changes.
Health
risks
If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of
potentially serious health problems, including:
- High triglycerides and low
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome — a
combination of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and
low HDL cholesterol
- Cancer, including cancer of the
uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver,
gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate
- Breathing disorders, including
sleep apnea,
- Gynecologic problems, such as
infertility and irregular periods
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Poor quality of life
Diagnosis of
obesity
- Your health history including family's
health history
- Calculating your BMI.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered within the healthy range.
BMI = body weight
(kg) ÷ height² (m)
Example: if
you weigh (68 kg) and are (1.73 m) tall, divide 68 by (1.73 ×
1.73), or 2.99. The result is 22.74, which is right in the middle of the
healthy range.
*The above
classification does not apply to people younger than 18 years of age, pregnant
women, or breast-feeding women. For people 65 years and older, the
"normal" range is higher, beginning slightly above 18.5 and extending
into the "overweight" range.
- A general physical exam.
- Blood tests. Tests may include a cholesterol test, liver function tests,
fasting glucose, a thyroid test and others, depending on your health situation.
Treating
and Preventing Obesity
The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy
weight.
All weight-loss programs
require changes in your eating habits and increased physical activity.
Reducing calories and eating healthier are vital to overcoming
obesity.
Avoid drastic and unrealistic diet changes, such as crash diets,
because they're unlikely to help you keep excess weight off for the long term.
Dietary changes to treat obesity
include:
A reduced-calorie diet. You and your
doctor can decide how many calories you need to take in each day to lose
weight, but a typical amount is 1,200 to 1,500 calories for women and 1,500 to
1,800 for men.
Feeling full on less. By eating larger portions of foods less packed with
calories,
Eat more plant-based foods, such as fruits,
vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates.
lean sources of
protein — such as beans, lentils and soy — and lean meats.
Limit salt, sugar and low-fat dairy products.
Small amounts of fats from
heart-healthy sources, such as nuts and olive.
Exercise and activity
·
Exercise. People
who are overweight or obese need to get at least 150 minutes a week of
moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent further weight gain or to
maintain the loss of a modest amount of weight. To achieve more significant
weight loss, you may need to exercise 300 or more minutes a week.
To make your own exercise goal more doable, break it up into
several sessions throughout the day, doing just 10 minutes at a time.
·
Increase your daily activity. any movement helps burn calories.
Prescription weight-loss medication
that weight-loss medication is meant to be used along with diet,
exercise and behavior changes, not instead of them. If you don't make these
other changes in your life, medication is unlikely to work.
Criteria
·
Your body mass index (BMI) is 30
or greater.
·
Your BMI is greater than 27, and
you also have medical complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood
pressure or sleep apnea.
Prescription weight-loss medications
·
Orlistat
·
Lorcaserin
·
Phentermine-topiramate
·
Phentermine
Weight-loss surgery
In some cases, weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric
surgery, is an option.
Weight-loss surgery limits the
amount of food you're able to comfortably eat or decreases the absorption of
food and calories or both.
For detailed view on weight loss surgeries in Chennai, India Click Bariatric surgery Chennai, India
Common weight-loss surgeries include:
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric
banding (LAGB)
- Gastric sleeve
- Biliopancreatic diversion with
duodenal switch
Preventing weight regain after obesity treatment
One of the best ways to prevent regaining the weight you've lost
is getting regular physical activity. Aim for 200 to 300 minutes a week. Keep
track of your physical activity if it helps you stay motivated and on course.
- Setting realistic goals.
- Sticking to your treatment plan.
- Identifying and avoiding food
triggers.
- Keeping a record. Keep
a food and activity log.
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- http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_condition_info_details.asp?channel_id=1055&relation_id=17519&disease_id=95&page_no=2
- http://www.asyouage.com/19_Medical_Complications_of_Obesity_files/Medical%20Complications%20of%20Obesity.jpg
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/
- https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/76/00/e2/7600e29d25b10f7a06eeea1a434433d4.jpg
- http://obesityfoundationindia.com/treatment.htm
- http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures
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