All about obesity:
Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and BMI over 30 is obese. It is a chronic medical disease that can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity – associated cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, gallstones, and other chronic illness. Obesity is a risk factor for a number of cancers. Even though medications and diets can help, the treatment of obesity cannot be a short term “fix” but has to be a lifelong commitment to proper diet habits, increased physical activity, and regular exercise. The goal of treatment should be to achieve and maintain a “healthier weight,” not necessarily an ideal weight. The chance of long-term successful weight loss are enhanced if the doctor works with a team of professionals, including dietitians, psychologists, and exercise professionals.
TYPES OF OBESITY:
- Overweight (not obese), if BMI is 25.0 to 29.9
- Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9
- Class 2 (moderate – risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9
- Class 3 (high – risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0.
9 Most common causes of obesity:
- Physical inactivity: Sedentary people burn fewer calories than people who are active. There’s a correlations between physical inactivity and weight gain in both sexes.
- Overeating: Over eating leads to weight gain, especially if the diet is high in fat. Foods high in fat or sugar for example, fast food, fried food, and sweets)have high energy density (foods that have a lot of calories in a small amount of food.)
- Genetics: A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese. Genetics also affect hormones involved in fat regulation first stop for example, one genetic cause of obesity is leptin deficiency. Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells and in the placenta. Leptin controls weight by signalling the brain to eat less when body fat stores are too high. For some reason, the body cannot produce enough Lipton or leptin cannot signal the brain to eat less, this controllers last, and obesity occurs.
- A diet high and simple carbohydrates: The role of carbohydrates in weight gain is not clear. Carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels, which in turn stimulate insulin released by pancreas, and insulin promotes the growth of fat tissue and can cause weight gain for stop some simple carbohydrates like sugars, fructose, desserts, soft drinks, beer, wine etc contribute to weight gain because they are more rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream than complex carbohydrates.
- Frequency of eating: Frequency of eating is nothing but how often you eat and the relation between frequency of eating and weight is somewhat controversial. Scientists have observed that people who eat small meals four or five times daily, have lower cholesterol levels and lower and or more stable blood sugar levels than people who eat less frequently (two or three large meals daily.) small frequent meals produce stable insulin levels, virus large meals cause large spikes of insulin after meals.
- Psychological factors: For some people, emotions influence eating habits many people it excessively in response to emotions such as boredom, sadness, stress or anger. While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than normal weight people, about 30% of the people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating.
- Diseases: Such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome and cushing’s syndrome are also contributors to obesity
- Social issues: There is a link between social issues and obesity for stop lack of money to purchase healthy foods or lack of safe places to walk or exercise can increase the risk of obesity.