OBESITY

MEANING

In simple words, obesity refers to a body state that is excessively beyond the ideal Body Mass Index. In adults, obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity has become a very serious issue among youngsters in these modern times.

CAUSES OF OBESITY

When a person consumes more calories than they use as energy, their body will store the extra calories as fat. This can lead to obesity. Also, some foods and beverages — especially those that are high in fats and sugars — are more likely to lead to weight gain

Items that tend to increase the risk of weight gain include:• fast foods• fried foods, such as french fries• fatty and processed meats• many dairy products• foods with added sugar, such as baked goods, ready made breakfast cereals, and cookies• foods containing hidden sugars, such as ketchup and many other canned and packaged food items

Many people lead a much more sedentary lifestyle than their parents and grandparents did.Some examples of sedentary habits include:• working in an office rather than doing manual labor• playing games on a computer instead of doing physical activities outside• going to places by car instead of walking or cyclingSome medications can also lead to weight gain.• hypoglycemia medications, such as tolbutamide• glucocorticoids for rheumatoid arthritis• some antidepressants

COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY

Obesity has been linked to a number of health complications,

• type 2 diabetes• heart disease• high blood pressure• certain cancers (breast, colon, and endometrial)• stroke• gallbladder disease• fatty liver disease• infertility

DIAGNOSIS OF OBESITY

Certain tests to help diagnose obesity-related health risks include

• blood tests to examine cholesterol and glucose levels• liver function tests• a diabetes screening• thyroid tests• heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)• screening tests, such as ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans

OBESITY PREVENTION TIPS

PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN

Gradually work to change family eating habits and activity levels rather than focusing on a child’s weight

• Be a role model. Parents who eat healthy foods and participate in physical activity set an example so that a child is more likely to do the same.

• Keep the refrigerator stocked with fat-free or low-fat milk, fresh fruit, and vegetables instead of soft drinks and snacks high in sugar and fat

.• Serve at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

• Encourage children to drink water rather than beverages with added sugar. These include soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juice drinks.

PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN ADULTS

• Choose whole grain foods, such as brown rice and whole wheat bread. Don’t eat highly processed foods made with refined white sugar, flour, high-fructose corn syrup and saturated fat

.• Weigh and measure food to be able to learn correct portion sizes. For example, a 3-ounce serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards. Don’t order supersized menu items.

• Learn to read food nutrition labels and use them, keep the number of portions you are really eating in mind.

• Simply reducing portion sizes and using a smaller plate can help you lose weight.

• Aim for an average of 60 to 90 minutes or more of moderate to intense physical activity 3 to 4 days each week. Examples of moderate intensity exercise are walking a 15-minute mile, or weeding and hoeing a garden. Running or playing singles tennis are examples of more intense activities.

CONCLUSION

Recognition is increasing that overweight and obesity are not only problems of individuals, but also societywide problems of populations. Acting on this recognition will require multifaceted, population-based changes in the socioenvironmental variables that influence energy intake and expenditure.“Obesity is very easy to catch but they cannot run so fast”.