What is Obesity?
Obesity is considered a disease and pertains to an abnormal increase in the total body fat. But in fact, it is a group of diseases together, which are either genetic in nature or caused by environmental reasons. By simple definition it means a high level of overweight. But a person can be just overweight without really being truly obese. A man weighing 100kgs may appear to be obese. But if he is six feet tall, he would be considered only overweight not obese because he may have a below-average amount of body fat and more muscle mass. In contrast, a person who is slightly overweight but has sedentary habits might have excess fat and small muscle mass. He would be considered obese.
Symptoms of Obesity
Weight gain is a slow process and happens over a period of time. Most people realize they are obese since there are some obvious signs:
1) Needing larger size clothes,
2) Feeling breathless at the slightest exertion,
3) Having ‘tyres’ around the waist or a wider than normal waistline,
4) Having a larger body mass and an overall bulky feeling
5) Having sluggish movements.
Diagnosis of Obesity
There are two basic ways of measuring obesity:
A) The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most commonly used method. It is calculated taking into account factors like weight in relation to height and age. The following table shows the BMI levels to categorize a normal, overweight and obese person:
| BMI | Categories |
| 18.50 to 24.99 | Normal Weight Person |
| 25.00 to 29.99 | Overweight person |
| 30.00 to 39.99 | Obese Person |
| 40.00 and above | Extremely obese person |
B) Waist-measurement is another way of determining obesity. This is again a very important method of testing obesity because in the case of abdominal obesity, most of the fat is around the person’s waist rather than the hips and is a potential health hazard. Such persons are at a greater risk of suffering from chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and certain forms of cancer. A waist size larger than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men is considered a potentially high-risk factor.
Causes of Obesity
There can be both medical and non-medical causes of obesity.
Medical causes:
In both the medical causes of obesity, the condition is a result of an imbalance of hormones in the body.
1) Cushing’s syndrome: This hormonal condition causes an increase of fat accumulation around the neck and torso, with tapering arms and legs.
2) Hypothyroidism: An imbalance in the production of thyroid hormone results in a slower metabolism and therefore lesser energy for exercise. Lack of physical activity can lead to obesity.
Non-medical or common causes:
1) Age: As people age, due to reduced activity levels and slower metabolism, the amount of calories needed by the body reduce but the intake may remain the same.
2) Lifestyle: The combination of high calorie intake and lack of exercise can lead to obesity. People may not walk enough or may never indulge in outdoor activities which would give them exercise. Easy availability of high-calorie snacks rather than healthy alternatives is another reason. Cooking low-calorie meals at home may not be a convenient option due to time or space constraints.
3) Poverty: People in the lower income groups may purchase processed foods because they cost less but might have more calories rather than healthier foods. Recreation facilities may not be available in their neighborhood as it may be unsafe and not conducive to activities like walking or jogging. Membership of a gymnasium is too expensive and unthinkable.
4) Alcohol: This adds calories to the diet as it increases the appetite. A person who has imbibed alcohol may not be able to choose suitably healthy meals and appropriate portion sizes.
5) Comfort food: Many people gain weight when they quit smoking. Food often tastes better so there may be a larger consumption of food. Also, nicotine no longer speeds up the calorie-burning process so the calories accumulate.
Types of Obesity
Android obesity: In this type of obesity, the person’s face, neck, shoulders, arms and torso are bloated. This does exist in women but is more common in men. The stomach, arms, shoulders and breasts appear stiff. The back seems to be erect. The neck is compressed. The lower portion of the body, namely the hips, thighs and legs are thinner in comparison with the upper part. Android type of obesity is a major risk for heart damage due to high cholesterol levels.
Gynoid obesity: In this type, the lower part of the body has the accumulated fat. This type of obesity is more prevalent in women than in men. The flesh is somewhat flabby in the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and legs. The face and neck mostly give a normal appearance but the cheeks appear drawn. As these persons grow old the whole figure assumes a stooping posture and the spine is never erect due to the heavy hips and thighs. The organs affected are kidneys, uterus, intestines, bladder and bowels. But since the functions of these organs directly affect the heart, reducing body fat is still very essential.
Treatment of Obesity
Non-surgical methods: Obesity has to be treated on multiple fronts. Checking weight at regular intervals keeps one conscious of any positive as well as negative changes in the body weight. Joining a gymnasium or alternatively taking walks everyday for at least 45 minutes is necessary. Many fitness clubs have special set of exercises and a diet regime suitable for different types of obesity. Eating low-fat, low-calorie food is a must. Eating high-protein foods like lean meat, fish, bean sprouts, unsalted nuts like walnuts and pistachios help to increase muscle mass instead of fat. Consumption of fruits and vegetables in plenty helps to simultaneously balance the diet and improve digestion. In the case of obesity caused due to medical reasons, proper medical advice is necessary. The usual obesity-related exercise routine plus diet regime have to be augmented by suitable prescriptions.
Bariatric surgery: Obesity can be treated with the help of Bariatric surgery. This surgery is a set of operations which cause a major and long-lasting weight loss. It is only undertaken in extremely obese patients and is avoided where the obesity can be cured by non-surgical methods as it is known to cause side-effects like nausea and vomiting, dehydration, food intolerance, changed bowel habits, cold intolerance, etc. Also, the cost of surgery itself is prohibitive.
Living with Obesity
Obesity is a direct cause of increased incidences of diabetes mellitus type-2, high cholesterol, hyperlipidemia, degenerative joint disease and coronary artery disease. Cancers like that of colon, rectum and prostate, uterus, biliary tract, breast and ovary are more prevalent in the obese.
Obesity also causes psycho-social disorders. Obesity mars the appearance of an otherwise attractive person. This could induce a feeling of rejection and loss of self-esteem, thus adversely affecting the person’s professional as well as personal life.
Prevention of Obesity
A person having a familial tendency towards obesity can prevent it by following methods like:
1) Lifestyle changes: If you use a bicycle instead of a car it is an excellent exercise. Walking to ones destination instead of using some means of transport is a good habit too.
2) A healthy eating plan: A low-fat, high-protein diet along with plenty of vegetables and fruits can go a long way in preventing obesity. This will lower your risk of other related diseases too.
3) Abstinence: Avoid fatty cuts of meat, processed foods, poultry with skin, foods that have a high content of hydrogenated oils and trans fats like French fries and fried chicken, lard, coconut, whole milk butter and cheese, baked products like cookies and doughnuts, egg yolk, shrimps, high-sugar processed foods like canned fruits in syrup and soft drinks, and most importantly alcohol.
4) Restrict portion size: Avoid overeating. Limiting the portion size of each meal is a good way to help you eat fewer calories.
5) Drink water: Drinking plenty of water is the most important cure for obesity. If you drink a glass of water just before a meal, your food intake automatically reduces and prevents overeating. Secondly, it aids digestion and cleanses the system of toxins.
6) Physical Activity: Staying active and indulging in some form of physical activity helps to lower other obesity-related diseases, to keep joints flexible and muscles strong. It gives energy and helps to cope better with stress. This will in turn help you to maintain a positive frame of mind most times and improve overall health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that obesity is the biggest unrecognized health hazard in the world. The WHO statistics show that about a billion people globally are overweight, of which 300 million come under the ‘obese’ category. In the USA alone, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004, slightly more than one-third Americans are obese. The incidence of overweight is rising in children and teens too. The survey shows that 18 to 19 percent of school-aged children and about 17 percent of teenagers are either overweight or obese.
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