A primer on obesity

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

• Type 2 diabetes 

•  High blood pressure 

•  Metabolic syndrome — a combination of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high   triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol

•  Heart disease 

•  Stroke 

•  Cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate 

•  Breathing disorders, including sleep apnea,

• Gallbladder disease 

•  Gynecologic problems, such as infertility and irregular periods 

• Sexual health issues 

•  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. 

Dietary changes

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. 

REFERENCES:

• https://politicalconnection.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/causes-obesity.gif
• 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