What is Overweight and Obesity and why is it a Problem?
Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) greater than 25 and obese as a BMI of 30 or greater. Most individuals with a BMI over 25 are entering into the zone of increased health risk.
Obesity leads to chronic diseases. A poor nutritional choice raise our risks for obesity and with it comes obesity related metabolic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. It’s not just adults who are overweight; many of our kids are overweight too.
Why are we getting obesity?
The causes of obesity in today’s lives are Genetic basis, over abundance of food, and our technological society with its emphasis on labor saving devices, efficiency and time saving. We are less active in our everyday lives; it is not just that we are not exercising, but that the incidental activity of everyday life has been reduced or eliminated by technological advances. We don't walk as much, or as far, and we don't expend as much energy operating machinery or manual. Consequently, it has proved very difficult for many people to control their weight in the second half of the 20th century.
Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) greater than 25 and obese as a BMI of 30 or greater. Most individuals with a BMI over 25 are entering into the zone of increased health risk.
Obesity leads to chronic diseases. A poor nutritional choice raise our risks for obesity and with it comes obesity related metabolic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. It’s not just adults who are overweight; many of our kids are overweight too.
Why are we getting obesity?
The causes of obesity in today’s lives are Genetic basis, over abundance of food, and our technological society with its emphasis on labor saving devices, efficiency and time saving. We are less active in our everyday lives; it is not just that we are not exercising, but that the incidental activity of everyday life has been reduced or eliminated by technological advances. We don't walk as much, or as far, and we don't expend as much energy operating machinery or manual. Consequently, it has proved very difficult for many people to control their weight in the second half of the 20th century.
Other Causes of Obesity
Some illnesses may lead to or are associated with weight gain or obesity. These include:
Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. It often results in lowered metabolic rate and loss of vigor.
Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition characterized by high levels of androgens (male hormone), irregular or missed menstrual cycles, and in some cases, multiple small cysts in the ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs
Some illnesses may lead to or are associated with weight gain or obesity. These include:
Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. It often results in lowered metabolic rate and loss of vigor.
Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition characterized by high levels of androgens (male hormone), irregular or missed menstrual cycles, and in some cases, multiple small cysts in the ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs
Why have we not been effective in treatment of obesity?
There are a number of reasons for this. Obesity, its etiology and effects, the biology of adipose tissue (which is fat storage organ) and goals of treatment have been poorly understood. Nutrition has not been considered an important part of the medical curriculum. No long-term effective medical treatments have been available.
Despite the lack of real assistance from the medical profession, the obese have been stigmatized. Obese patients have become disheartened after their attempts at weight loss. They have turned to other treatments and therapists, mostly without success. The vast majority of these treatments, some costly, are ineffective. Patients are still looking for the magic, which will enable them to lose weight without effort and then to keep it off.
What should we do about obesity?
Two major options for obesity are being discussed now everywhere. One says that weight loss and control must remain an individual responsibility, whereas the other one argues that in some individuals morbid obesity is inevitable because of their genes, inherent appetite drives and metabolic set points, and that they will inevitably need help to control weight. The life style can affect the Blood pressure, blood Cholesterol ,blood glucose level and fat content. So a change in lifestyle is pretty much needed.
When lifestyle changes are not enough, an appropriate treatment is needed. The goals of such treatment should not necessarily be to normalize body weight, but to optimize health. A reduction of 6-10 kg can significantly decrease the cardiovascular health risks of overweight or obese people.
There are a number of reasons for this. Obesity, its etiology and effects, the biology of adipose tissue (which is fat storage organ) and goals of treatment have been poorly understood. Nutrition has not been considered an important part of the medical curriculum. No long-term effective medical treatments have been available.
Despite the lack of real assistance from the medical profession, the obese have been stigmatized. Obese patients have become disheartened after their attempts at weight loss. They have turned to other treatments and therapists, mostly without success. The vast majority of these treatments, some costly, are ineffective. Patients are still looking for the magic, which will enable them to lose weight without effort and then to keep it off.
What should we do about obesity?
Two major options for obesity are being discussed now everywhere. One says that weight loss and control must remain an individual responsibility, whereas the other one argues that in some individuals morbid obesity is inevitable because of their genes, inherent appetite drives and metabolic set points, and that they will inevitably need help to control weight. The life style can affect the Blood pressure, blood Cholesterol ,blood glucose level and fat content. So a change in lifestyle is pretty much needed.
When lifestyle changes are not enough, an appropriate treatment is needed. The goals of such treatment should not necessarily be to normalize body weight, but to optimize health. A reduction of 6-10 kg can significantly decrease the cardiovascular health risks of overweight or obese people.
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