The word obesity comes from French origin, which means being very fat. Obesity means more than just being overweight. It is a medical condition, and it has adverse effects on our body because it is the root cause of many other medical conditions such as Diabetes, Heart diseases, etc. you can detect obesity by calculating Obesity BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI is one’s weight in Kilograms divided by the square of height in meters; Obesity’s BMI varies for different age groups and genders.
What is obesity/OverWeight?
Obesity can be defined as “a condition which arises due to accumulation of surplus fat in our body.” Every individual belonging to any gender or age group is prone to obesity. Obesity can be a reason for many acute diseases such as Diabetes mellitus type 2, cancer, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma. It is found to lower quantity and quality of life. Obese people have their BMI (Body mass index) over 30 kilograms per meter; people with obesity BMI range between 25-30 kg/m are considered overweight.
Types of obesity/OverWeight
There are two main types of obesity:
Type-1 obesity: The leading cause of this is an intake of surplus calories and lack of physical activities
Type-2 obesity: It is caused due to various diseases, medications, and due to genetic reasons.
Based on fat placement, there are three types of obesity:
Peripheral obesity: is triggered by the pilling up of fat in the thighs and hips areas of the body.
Central obesity: is Surplus fat accumulated in areas around the abdomen.
Combination: is both peripheral and central fat accumulation causes obesity.
Causes of Obesity/OverWeight
In most cases, the main cause of obesity is intaking too many calories in the form of food and drinks and not burning the right number of calories through exercise and physical activities, which leads to the storage of excess fat in our body. Lack of physical activity is a very common reason for obesity nowadays because everyone has office jobs with strict hours where they have to sit at one place every day and work. But in some cases, it is caused by various medical conditions, such as
Hypothyroidism: in which our thyroid glands produce insufficient hormones
Cushing’s syndrome: in which our body produces an excess number of steroid hormones.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a state caused by the disproportion of reproductive hormones in females
But if these conditions are diagnosed and treated in early stages, they do not become an obstacle in weight loss. There are few medicines used to treat diseases such as epilepsy, diabetes, schizophrenia, and antidepressants that cause weight gain. Smoking cessation can also be a contributing factor to weight gain. Frequently checking your obesity BMI can also help in weight loss.
How do you know you are Obese/Overweight?
It is important to keep in check the symptoms of obesity. The most apparent symptoms are difficulty sleeping, joint pain, back pain, increased sweating, sensitivity towards heat, tiredness or fatigue, Depression, and shortness of breath after doing a little physical activity. Other severe symptoms include skin color changes in various parts of the body, emergence of stretch marks, increase in weight circumference, the appearance of varicose veins in the lower limb, and BMI (Body mass index) greater than 30 kg/m2. The last stage is not being able to get up, walk or do anything on your own.
What is BMI (Body mass index)?
According to WHO (World health organization), BMI is an essential guide of weight-for-height that is mainly used to define obesity, overweight, and underweight in adults. A person with BMI between 25-30.0 is deemed as overweight; a BMI over the value of 30.0 is defined as obese. At the same time, a BMI of 40 or above is defined as severe obesity. Moreover, the moderate range of BMI for healthy weight is between 18.5-24. BMI does not tell the location and amount of body fat. BMI of pregnant and breastfeeding women fluctuates and cannot be calculated accurately.
How to treat obesity/OverWeight?
You should visit your physician, who will conduct various tests such as blood tests to check the glucose level in your blood, LFT (liver function test), diabetes check, and tests for thyroid and heart. These tests are performed to examine how your body is affected by obesity. Then they will recommend you a proper diet and exercise plan. To treat obesity completely, you must go through complete lifestyle and behavioral changes. Suppose other methods of weight loss are not working. In that case, taking medication and undergoing weight loss surgery is the last resort.
How to prevent obesity/OverWeight?
Prevention is better than treatment. There are many ways to prevent obesity and diseases related to it by making healthier life choices. You can easily avoid obesity by avoiding Unhealthy food items such as soft drinks, white sugar, keeping yourself physically active by making a routine of walking, swimming, etc. daily, counting calories, and choosing nutritious food while eating such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grain. But your primary priority should be living a healthy life, and you should not overdo weight-loss treatment and make yourself sick—aim towards living a moderate and healthy life. Schools should involve children in more physical activities to keep their minds and bodies active and develop habits.
Facts about obesity:
- There is very little awareness about obesity
- One out of five children and adults is overweight worldwide.
- Obesity is the cause of millions of deaths every year.
- According to a few studies, women are more prone to obesity
- Obesity is becoming very common among children nowadays.
Conclusion
The above article is all about obesity; what is it? What are the symptoms, and how should we treat and prevent them. Obesity is not something that is untreatable or cannot be avoided by taking preventive measures. Regular check-ups and keeping a check on your body can work wonders if you are vulnerable to obesity. And even if you are not obese, you should always make healthy life choices.
For further information about Obesity treatment and weight loss treatment, you can visit our Website and Book an Appointment with a professional doctor who can treat your overweight body/obesity.
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