Our WhatsApp number cannot be used for calls. This is a chat only number.
Being overweight does not mean you are obese!
There are strict worldwide obese definitions. For instance, WHO defines obesity as anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 30. However, this definition can change depending on where you are in the world.
So, what is the meaning of obesity? Check out below!
Obesity is a condition where a person accumulates a lot of body fat, leading to negative health effects. Obesity meaning is linked to the difference between calories taken in and calories used up. If the calories taken in exceed the calories used, it leads to the accumulation of fat.
However, not all fat people are obese. Moreover, there is a clear distinction between being "overweight" and "obese." The definitions are given below:
According to the World Health Organisation, if a person has a BMI of over 30, they are considered obese.
Additionally, according to WHO, if a person has a BMI of more than 25 but less than 30, they are considered overweight.
The signs and symptoms of obesity are classified as symptoms for adults, adolescents, children, morbid obesity, rare symptoms, and various complications. Here are the symptoms of obesity in detail:
The adult symptoms of obesity are as follows:
Symptoms of obesity for children and adolescents are as follows:
Morbid obesity occurs when a person is 45 kgs above the optimal body weight. It can also be defined regarding BMI as a person having a BMI of 40 or more. The symptoms are:
Moreover, some rare genetic conditions cause obesity. The symptoms accompanying them are as follows:
Common symptoms of this condition include:
Symptoms of this condition include:
Key symptoms of this syndrome include:
Apart from the above symptoms of obesity, obesity itself can give rise to many health complications. These are:
Those are the health risks of being overweight.
So far, medical professionals have identified plenty of causes of obesity.
However, to answer what causes obesity briefly, one can say that a combination of lifestyle, genetic and environmental conditions are at play.
Here are the major causes of obesity:
The genetic make-up of a person can play a significant role in fat regulation. For instance, genetics affects the production of certain hormones that help in the fat regulation process.
For example, leptin is a hormone that regulates fat in the body. It controls weight by informing the brain to eat less when there is extra fat stored. However, for some, the quantity of this hormone is insufficient. It is because of their genetic make-up.
Therefore, the body loses control of fat regulation and obesity sets in.
It is common knowledge that a lack of physical activity is one of the major causes of obesity. Those who live sedentary lives burn fewer calories than those who live active lives with regular exercise. In fact, research shows a strong positive correlation between weight gain in both sexes and no physical activity.
Social issues as one of the silent causes of obesity are relatively unacknowledged. People often do not have the money to buy healthy food, nor do they have access to parks to exercise.
Obesity is known to be a common complication of certain conditions such as:
Taking certain medicines can lead to obesity. Some common categories of these medications are:
Side effects of taking these medications may result in obesity.
Emotions affect eating habits. People may eat because of excessive negative emotions, such as stress, anger, depression, sadness, or low self-esteem. However, there is no correlation between the two, and it is wholly an individual choice. However, around 30% of the people suffering from obesity are known to binge eat.
The wrong food choice is one of the reasons for obesity. For instance, simple sugars are more easily absorbed by the bloodstream, causing a quick insulin release. This insulin spike converts simple sugars into fat. Therefore, scientists believe that this fast conversion causes fat accumulation to occur rapidly. Therefore, foods rich in simple sugars such as desserts, soft drinks, wine and beer should be avoided to prevent obesity.
Sleep deprivation is another silent cause of obesity. Sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of obesity in children and adults. Lack of sleep leads to hormonal changes, which increases appetite. For instance, ghrelin, a hormone that causes an increase in appetite, is released when a person does not sleep. Moreover, a lack of sleep can lead to a decrease in leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite.
There are three ways to measure obesity. They are:
In BMI, the weight of a person in kg is divided by the square of the height in m. Therefore, the unit for BMI is kg/m2.
BMI=Weight of a person in kgHeight in m2
Once you get the BMI value, it is matched against the chart to gauge the classification whether overweight, underweight, normal, or obese.
Obesity does not depend on body fat alone, but also the location of the body fat. For example, fat on the abdomen is a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, etc. That is why the measure of waist size is also considered when measuring obesity.
In Asians, a waist size of more than 90cm in males is considered obese, while for women, the cutoff waist size is 80cm.
The EOSS is a better way to assess obesity than BMI or waist circumferential risk threshold. It is a 5-stage system that measures the psychological, physical and metabolic parameters of a patient to determine the treatment for obesity. The stages are as follows:
Stage 0: No apparent risk factors
Stage 1: Having preclinical risk factors
Stage 2: Comorbidity has been established
Stage 3: End organ damage
Stage 4: End stage
There is no quick cure for obesity. However, while surgery and medication are prescribed as a last resort, it does yield results.
Furthermore, exercise and diet are some of the natural remedies for obesity.
So, how to get rid of obesity naturally? Find out below!
Some of the suggestions for changes in lifestyle and behaviour that can help to get rid of obesity are:
Lifestyle and diet changes are the preferred treatment plan for obese children. Surgery or medication is viewed as the last resort.
Doctors may prescribe certain pills for weight loss to supplement the diet and exercise. These pills, however, are prescribed only if other weight loss methods have not worked. Some of the examples of pills that may be prescribed are:
However, these drugs may have side effects. Hence, a doctor will monitor the patient's condition carefully if they prescribe this course of action.
Another name for weight loss surgery is bariatric surgery. This surgery works in one of the three ways:
To reduce the risk of comorbidities, there are four major types of bariatric surgery. They are:
This type of surgery removes most parts of your stomach, around 80%. Furthermore, the second part of the surgery involves shortening the length of the small intestine by connecting it between the gallbladder and the end of the small intestine.
In gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon will create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. Then they will connect the pouch to the small intestine bypassing the stomach. Hence, food and liquid go from the pouch to the small intestine instead of through the stomach.
This surgery separates the stomach into two separate pouches with a band. The small pouch that is created helps you to feel full after eating less.
Once again, a combination of genetics and health and lifestyle choices puts a person at higher risk for obesity. Some of the common risk factors in obesity are:
Genes affect fat regulation and fat deposition. Further, they also control how your body converts food into energy, regulates appetite and burns calories. Moreover, those with a family history of obesity tend to succumb to the condition themselves.
Those who have an unhealthy diet with low quantities of fruits and vegetables, consume sugar-rich drinks and have a sedentary lifestyle are at a greater risk for obesity.
As mentioned above, certain diseases or medications can cause weight complications. For instance, those with type 2 diabetes or Cushing's syndrome are at risk for obesity.
Those with overweight friends and families tend to have obesity, meaning that eating will be one of the same interests they share. Moreover, a lack of parks for exercise or access to healthy food is another social and economic risk factor of obesity.
Here are some ways:
In conclusion, remember that you are not alone in your battle against obesity! Anyone can get obesity under control.
Please try one more time!
Disclaimer #1: *Customer can choose options at the time of availing insurance. Premium amount may vary accordingly. Insured is required to disclose any pre-existing condition or on going treatment before policy issuance in the proposal form.
Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
Continue with {{bikeCtrl.lastVisitedData.lastVisitedUrl.indexOf('DigitPaymentGateway/payments')
!== -1 ? 'payment completion': 'previous choice'}}
