OBESITY (A Threat To Healthy Life) Part-I

OBESITY

So What Obesity exactly means,

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. It is defined by body mass index (BMI) and further evaluated in terms of fat distribution via the waist-hip ratio and total cardiovascular risk factors.

Symptoms: Increased fat 

Diagnostic method: BMI > 30 kg/m²

Treatment: Diet, Exercise, Medications, Surgery

Obesity or excess body weight is becoming a huge problem in people of all ages across the world. A condition that leads to multiple other diseases ranging from diabetes to hypertension, obesity has become like an uncontrollable epidemic with a 300% increase in the number of patients over the past 4 decades. According to estimates, the United States tops the list of countries with obese people at 13%, while China and India together account for more than 15% of the total population (46 million and 30 million people respectively as per figures in the year 2013).

The main reason for obesity is a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise. Modernization and technology have made lives easier and physical activity minimal. This puts a substantial part of the population at risk - a huge danger that we as a society should realize, understand and do something about. In countries like India, morbid obesity has not yet become a public health priority, which is extremely concerning. With unhealthy, processed food becoming easily accessible, the average caloric intake per individual among middle-class India has increased substantially. And naturally, obesity becomes the after effect when the amount of calories consumed is more than what’s burnt. Thus, Obesity in India has reached epidemic proportions, with morbid obesity affecting 5% of the country’s population.

What causes Obesity?

Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little. If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly fat and sugars, but do not burn off the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the surplus energy will be stored by the body as fat.

Effects of Obesity on Health?

Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesteremia, which in turn means a 49% higher risk of cardiovascular deaths and stroke. The risk of death from respiratory disease rose up to 38% and that from cancer - higher by 19%. Research at Harvard University revealed that every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 is associated with approx. 31% higher risk of premature death.

How do we Control Obesity?

As a disease, obesity is a complex condition with difficult solutions. The epidemic of obesity needs to be tackled at several levels to be managed efficiently: the individual level, the community level, and the government level. Individual-level includes adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise. And yes, personalized guidelines must be made for treating obesity with lifestyle measures while the preventive programs are in progress; along with medical help including medications for comorbidity and bariatric surgery (in severe cases of obesity).

So,

This is all in Part-I for the Introduction of Obesity with its Effects, Causes, and Control.

Please stay with me for Part-II.

Thank You