Tag: Health education

Mental Illnesses doubled among youth : Latest Study

 Latest study by JAMA Pediatrics, a medical journal, reveals that Anxiety and Depression has doubled among the youth globally, as compared to the pre-Covid period. The analysis was published on 9th August, 2021 after collecting empirical clinical data on depression and anxiety in East Asia, Europe, North America, Middle East, Central and South America.

As per the data given in the study, one in four adolescents worldwide, have shown symptoms of depression. While one in five youth suffer from symptoms of anxiety. The data has sparked concern among the mental health experts and psychologists. “Results from this analysis suggest that the pandemic has likely instigated a global mental health crisis in Youth” said Sheri Madigan, professor of psychology at University of Calgary. 

The mental health of youngsters was already deteriorating before the pandemic. Experts said that the mental health of children and youngsters have gotten worse with the passage of time in the pandemic. Some reasons that have made the situation worse include persistent isolation, disruption in education, and financial problems in the family. The pandemic has created conditions in which the youth feels hopeless and have accumulated a negative feeling inside them.

The closure of schools and online learning from home has adversely impacted the children. Loss of interaction with the peers, lack of support from the teachers along with chronic stress and instability in daily routine are also major contributors to mental illnesses. It has led to an increase in symptoms of depression like sadness, loss of interest in activities, difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite etc. 

An uncontrollable fear and constant worry about the health of family and friends have also affected the children and youngsters, leading to an increase in the symptoms of anxiety. According to the data, these symptoms of depression and anxiety are more prevalent in young females as compared to males. Number of females affected by mental health issues was higher than males even prior to the pandemic. 

These symptoms have affected the older children more than the younger ones. Factors like loss of interaction, along with puberty related hormonal changes have affected the elder children.  Adolescents and youngsters are the most affected age group. This can be a constraint in their personal growth as well as for the society as a whole. Mental wellbeing should be promoted among the youth before they step into adulthood. Issues related to mental health can have long lasting consequences if that persists without being properly addressed. 

Children and youngsters are finding it difficult to cope up with the disruptions in their routine in these difficult and unprecedented times of pandemic. It is important to monitor and keep a check on the mental health status of children globally with the help of data, research, and studies. The collective support from parents, teachers, researchers, medical facilities and policy makers can surely develop a better future in terms of mental health for the children and youth worldwide. 


Disparities in Health Care

 The issues around health infrastructure and access to facilities have gained momentum in the Covid-19 pandemic. Health plays an integral part in human development. WHO defines health as “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. 

Better health is important to human happiness and well-being. Everybody knows the importance of healthcare these days, given the pandemic situation. But an important question that needs to be addressed is that does everyone have access to healthcare facilities? 

Access to quality health services is imperative for prevention and treatment of diseases. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of 2005-2006 reveals that 58.2% women from the rural areas belonging to the age group of 15-49 are anaemic. Sanitation and hygiene are crucial to maintain good health. As per the survey of 2005, only 30-35% rural households have access to proper toilet facilities. 

Access to safe drinking water is another major problem in rural areas. In many areas, safe drinking water from tap, borewell, pipeline or pump is not available. The people of these areas travel for hours to access drinking water. Lack of water or exposure to unhealthy drinking water can affect the health of the people. 

The disparity between rural and urban health infrastructure was evident in the NFHS. Mortality of infants and children in the rural areas is about 50% more than that of the urban areas. People from the rural areas spend far less on healthcare facilities. According to a report by the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health ( NCMH), 80% of the health infrastructure, medical manpower, and other health resources belong to the urban areas. The socio-economically weaker people from the rural areas are the most affected by the highly expensive healthcare and lack of infrastructure. 


The rate of malnutrition in rural areas is alarming. There is a glaring difference between rural and urban healthcare which is evident from the rate of  Anemia, disability, death rate, birth rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, life expectancy, total fertility rate, communicable diseases, sanitation and hunger. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005, with the aim to provide equitable, accessible and affordable quality healthcare to the rural population. It focuses especially upon the vulnerable groups. NRHM aims to improve the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent health services. 

Poor health leads to lower productivity and deprivation among the people of rural areas. Poor health care is a constraint in the process of development. Effective implementation of the healthcare schemes is necessary to uplift the facilities and make healthcare accessible to the people residing in the rural areas. 

As the famous saying states “Health is Wealth”, health and development have a positive correlation. Therefore it is crucial to develop the health facilities in order to eradicate the rural-urban divide and develop rural India.


Art and Mental Health

 In our daily life filled with stress and tension, art can be a great source of comfort to our minds. “Creative Therapy” has the power to heal the mind and has a positive impact on mental health. Any form of art, especially drawing, painting and sculpting is considered to be a therapeutic practice. Its benefits on mental well-being can be traced from the psychological theories by Adrian Hill, Edward Adamson, and Donald Winnicott.

“Art as Healing”

Artist Edward Adamson, also known as the father of art therapy in Britain, has written the book “Art as Healing”. It highlights his findings on the positive impact of art in healing the patients suffering from mental illnesses. He worked on his idea of “art therapy” in the psychiatric hospital in Netherne and with the patients in his studio in West London. He collected the artworks produced in these sessions, which is known as the Adamson Collection. 

 According to him, art is not simply a form of occupation or art therapy to distract or absorb, but a dynamic and unique aid to the patient’s recovery. He believes that mental illness is a breakdown of personality and art is one of the expressions of a human being’s personality. The patient can achieve harmony through the art forms. 

Art is a way of expressing ideas of a personality. There are three major benefits of using art as the healing process for those suffering from mental illness. Firstly, the patient feels relief when their ideas are expressed through art. Secondly, they can externalise and examine their ideas. Thirdly, the doctor gets a permanent record of the state of mind of the patient at that moment. The patient’s subconscious mind gets displayed through the painting.  


Art for mental well-being

Involving in any form of art brings peace and joy to the mind. It acts as the “food for our soul”. Another benefit of art is that it has the capability to calm our mind. It helps us to cope up with the day-to- day stress. It can be a fun as well as productive activity to do in leisure time or to take a break from work and a busy schedule. 

Participating in any form of art gives us a sense of purpose and achievement. It helps immensely to boost self esteem. Not only does art calm the mind, but it also helps us to grow it creatively. Art improves the skills of the brain like learning, focusing, memorising, problem solving, patience and concentration. While painting, the obstacles faced are tackled by finding creative solutions. It enhances the creative thinking skills of our brain. 

As a child, most of the people are involved in some form of art, be it drawing, painting, sculpture or anything else. But gradually as we grow old we tend to leave it behind, ignoring the numerous psychological benefits and mental positivity it offers. Art is a great exercise that can strengthen,  calm and heal our mind. 


QIGONG

                         QIGONG

The name comes from the meaning of Qi(life force or energy) and Gong(work), which indicates that the  works with the individual’s life force. It is also known as Chi kung. The art of qigong is based on the Taoyin, which is an ancient art which is used to foster mental and physical well being.

The Chinese Government made it popular as it is done with Tai Chi. The practice began to appear in teaning and marital arts at the beginning of the twentieth century which was used in the hospital in the early 1930s. It involves static and dynamic exercises which stimulate respiration by standing, seated and reclined position. There are many different styles of qigong, the movements are gentle and intense.

BENEFITS

Improved cardiac functions

Better circulation

Improved balance of sex hormones

Declaration of symptoms associated with senility

Improved bodily functions

FIVE ELEMTS OF QIGONG

The Five elements represent Earth, Wood, Water, Metal and Fire. This five series helps to maintain the body movements and improves the brain and organ function.

EARTH

1. Stand with your legs and your feet directly on the shoulders, strengthen the posture.

2. Relax your shoulders down and your arms loose at your side, slightly away from the body.

3.inhale-raise your arms, shoulders, Exhale-bend your knees, bring your arms.

4. Hold the position, focus on the breath.

WOOD

1. Starting from the earth posture, turn your palms and arms, forming a circle and inhale. 

2. Turn your palms so that elbow points downwards and relaxed.

3. Reverse the movement as you exhale.

4. Repeat twice, for the total of three.

WATER

1.Standing from the earth posture, bend your knees into squat, keep your chest upright and exhaling throughout.

2. Stretch your lumbar spine

3. By inhaling, stand to return earth posture.

4. Repeat twice, for a total of three.

METAL

1. Starting from the earth position, raise your arms until your hands are level with your stream.

2. Palms to be turned and hands to be upward.

3. As you inhale, move your hands to the shoulder.

4. As you exhale, bring your hands towards the back in position

5. Repeat it twice, observing the energy concentration and bring hands in front of your lungs.

FIRE

1. Starting from the earth posture, bring hands near the heart and inhale, Rotate your hands to feel the energy.

2. Turn from your waist gently to left, keeping your hands downwards to  the ground.

3. Palms facing each other, separate your hands in front of the abdomen.

4. Turn your waist to the right, keeping your torso relaxed to the ground.

5. As you exhale, let your hands come back to the heart.

6. Separate your hands, bringing one up near the shoulder and other near the abdomen.

     

            GENTLE MOVEMENTS, LONGER LIFE

ADDICTION


ADDICTION

Addiction is one of the complex diseases which affects the brain. A person who is exposed to a huge amount of stress gets addicted to consuming substances or looks for the methods that gives him or her the required relief. It is the compulsion of the individual to engage in the specific activity. It leads to harmful sequences  individual’s health and affects his mental state. 

Addiction is said to be the chronic disease which affects the brain and people struggling from this are unable to control their actions and sensible decisions at last which becomes very dangerous to them.


SUBSTANCE RELATED ADDICTION

Tobacco, alcohol, Street drugs(illegally sold drugs that are taken for non-medicinal uses), Prescription drugs(medicinal drugs that are misused

BEHAIOR RELATED ADDICTION

Gambling, Eating, The Internet, Video Games, Work and Sex.


ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence. It is a dabbling addictive disorder.In most of the individuals, it starts with the social drinking which eventually leads to the heavier alcohol consumption. Ethyl Alcohol or ethanol is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine and liquor. It is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugar and starch. It is a depressant that affects the CNS.

SYMPTOMS

Drinking alone, not able to remember the time, hiding alcohol, need of large quantity of alcohol to feel the effect, nausea, swelling, shaking when not drinking.

EFFECTS

It leads to mental Illness, depression and suicidal thoughts. One of the main reason of alcohol is, it starts inflame the liver and leads to liver cirrhosis. Only a healthy liver is able to regenerate its own cells, the affected liver is unable to regenerate and it becomes damaged. It is able to replace its new cells.


SMOKING CIGARETTES

Nicotine is the one of the most frequently used addictive drugs and the leading disease which causes disability and death in India. 

EFFECTS ON LUNGS

Smoking causes destruction of small hairs present in the upper respiratory truck, which is the trachea. By destruction of this, chemical substances enter into the body, causing infection, cough and lung cancer. It also increases the risk of Crohn’s diseases and formation of gall diseases.

Other effects includes, blood vessel damage in the legs, eyes and loss of eyesight. Smoking causes cancer in the oral cavity, pharynx and bladder.

These are some of the harmful effects which affect the human body due to addiction. 


TREATMENT OF ADDICTION

It involves the management of alcoholism and drug abuse.The Government and Non-Government Organizations in our country which have rehabilitation centres to treat and counsel the drug addicts and alcoholics by means of medical and psychological approaches.

POEMS

                                     

                         POEMS

The Art which connects the multiple effects of writing, reading, understanding, visualizing and mesmerizing thoughts that are always connected with actions is called poetry.


I strongly believe that the deadlines for poems have no point as it is the process of desire.

The feelings are more clearly read in eyes than listening them in the words. Yes, That is called the art of understanding!

THE ART OF LIVING IN READING

Poems can bring an adverse effect in all kinds of generation because they always come with the imagination of inventive thinking. No one in the world is born without feelings may be some or not ready to express it quietly at times and there comes the Power of the Poems which the inexpressive person can become an expression one within a nanosecond and that can be noted with a blink in the eye.

POETIC FORMS

The most frequently used poetic types are Sonnet, villanelle, Haiku, Elegy, Epigram, Limericks and free verse.
Sonnets are fourteen lines with specific rhyme and the scheme of stanzas. The music flows in the heart of readers while enjoying it to the fullest.

Villanelle are the nineteen lines with the repetition of the certain theme and it is considered to be the most challenging form.

Haiku is short and sweet format poems. Japanese haiku still resembles to be a masterpiece.

Elegy is usually used to express grief, admiration and acceptance. They are unique and enjoyed by all generations.
 
Epigrams are the form of statement which have the dimension of both humor and wit in the text.

Limericks are the five line poem with the line rhyme in the line 1,2,5 and then another rhyme in the lines of 3,4.

Free verse is an open poetic form which does not have specific rules or rhyme to be followed by. It may be short or long under any medium.


 POWERFUL POEMS WHICH CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND


NO MAN IS AN ISLAND BY JOHN DONNE



No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, 

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is, the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend’s

Or of thine own were.

Any man’s death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.


The poet uses  two important elements, he starts with the continent and ends in the bells which represents the church.  He adds that no man is an island every human being is interconnected with one another. One man’s death is the loss of the whole continent. The poet addresses himself, and he asks that when the bell tolls one should not worry who it is tolling for. It is tolling for everyone. A single person’s death is like the death of everyone.




SEVEN STAGES OF LIFE BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE


All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything

The poet says about the seven stages of life of man. 

Stage1 – infancy – helplessness

Stage 2 – schoolboy – slowly walks to school

Stage 3 – teenage – craze on girl

Stage 4 – adulthood – mans works for name

Stage 5 – middle age – respect, prosperus

Stage 6 – oldage – loses influence

Stage 7 – death – loses all

Above all, Poems can also make you feel romantic, grateful and also powerful. Poems are loved by all kinds of people. If you ever feel sad read poems which makes gives you a great feeling.




Nomophobia: A growing fear in the modern world

 The pandemic has limited our movement and contact with the real world. Smartphones are connecting us with the world right now. There was a drastic increase in the number of hours spent on the phone after the first lockdown in March 2020.  Phone is our source of information, entertainment, socializing virtually and even attending classes. From work to leisure activity, everything is done on our phone. Our daily routine revolves around technology in this “new normal”. We all find it extremely difficult to be detached from our phone these days. 

What is Nomophobia?

People have become so used to the habit of checking their phone constantly that they find it hard to keep their phone aside. Not being able to check the notifications on the phone immediately makes them anxious and builds up stress. We struggle to spend a minute without checking the social media updates. 

Nomophobia refers to the fear, discomfort, or anxiety of being out of contact with the mobile phone. In simpler words it means “No mobile phone phobia”. This fear is normal. But when the fear is severe and continuous, it can be problematic. It can affect our day-to-day behaviour and action. Young adults are the most vulnerable group affected by smartphone addiction. 

The term was coined during a UK based research which aimed to study the possibility of anxiety disorders due to excessive use of mobile phones in 2008. The main cause of their phobia was the fear of losing connectivity with their near and dear ones. 

Nomophobia can impact our body physically and mentally. Physically, it can affect our eyesight, headache, disturbed sleep. A study by the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science has established a relationship between Nomophobia and physical health. People who had the symptoms and felt anxious without the phone were experiencing headache, disturbance in sleeping and other such problems.

Its mental implications include lack of concentration, stress, irritation and anger. A research by the International Journal of Indian Psychology has found a positive correlation between Nomophobia and anger.   

Developing a “Stopping rule” to limit the hours spent using the phone, replacing some screen time with another hobby, and spending time on meditation are some of the preventive measures suggested in the studies. Some other suggestions include having a “no phone day” once in a week if possible and taking breaks frequently, especially for gamers. 

There is no doubt that a phone is a really useful device that can be used for a variety of purposes. But it is important to be aware of phone addiction because too much dependency on any device has its own consequences . 


WHAT THE WORLD'S LONGEST LIVING PEOPLE EAT AND DRINK?

 

THE IKIGAI DIET – A REVIEW

According to the World Health organization’s report, Japan is the country which has the highest life expectancy of the people.  Okinawa, an area in Japan has the highest life expectancy of overall an average. Okinawa is said to be the most affected area in the World War II.  People were affected by hunger due to lack of resources during 1940s. They recovered themselves from the huge destruction and now they have the longest living citizens.

What they actually do? What makes them special in terms of their life expectancy?

Okinawa is a place in Japan where there is no train and people living there either use cycle or prefer to walk while travelling. This is followed by the Japanese people as it is the province, which is managed by the government.

MIRACLE DIET


People in Japan eat a wide variety of vegetables. They consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Minimum 7 types of fruits and vegetables on their daily basis. 30% of their calories comes from the vegetables. Their tables consist of colorful varieties of vegetables.
However, their primary food is White rice, which they consume on their daily basis. They also add noodles sometimes to their diet. 
Their foundation for a diet is grains. They rarely eat sugar if they consume sugar it is only cane sugar. Sugarcane has the several benefits on dietary effects as they have antioxidant property. Eating a bit of sugar after meal avoids tooth decay.

STUDIES OF MAKATOO SUZUKI

  • Sugars are less on their diet. i.e. One third of their diet.
  • Salt 7grsms per day.
  • Few calories food intake.
  • Fish 3 times per week.
  • Lot of legumes and beans.


SANPIN-CHA

Sanpin cha  – a mix of green tea and jasmine flowers. In addition to the antioxidant property of green tea, Jasmine has varied benefits such as they strength immune system and relieve stress. Studies says that Jasmine tea reduces blood cholesterol levels. They drink on an average of three cups of jasmine tea.

GREEN TEA & WHITE TEA 

Green tea plays an important role in longevity. It protects from UV damage, promotes good bone health and prevents against bacterial infection.

White tea has a high concentration of polyphenols which prevents aging. It has the greatest antioxidant power with is equal to dozen of fruit juices. 

Drinking either green tea or white tea everyday reduces free radicals in the body which keep the body young.

SHIKUWASA

Shikuwasa, a citrus fruit which is widely found in Ogimi, a village in Okinawa. Shikuwasa juice is taken after diluting it with water. Their taste lies between lime and orange. As all citrus fruits have high levels of nobility which is a flavnoid, consuming nobiletin protects cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

They also contain Beta carotene, vitamin C & B1 and minerals. They are used in many dishes and widely used in parties as they also serve as a cake.

SO EAT LESS, LIVE LONGER!

Calorie restriction is a very effective way to keep your body younger. Eating more calorie rich food makes one to be lethargic and body is unable to digest the food frequently. Though we don’t have any accurate study on calorie restriction based on longevity, but the data increasingly give information on adequate calorie restrictions will be a protective effect against obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. Mountain 5:2 is his best way, i.e., fasting one or two days every week and eating normally for the remaining five days.

Hand Hygiene

 

                    HAND HYGIENE


Hands have been known to be involved in many infectious disease outbreaks especially in nurseries, neonatal units, intensive care units and other hospital settings. This happens because hands of medical personnel may be transiently infected with pathogenic organisms from infected patients or environment, and thus these can be transmitted to other patients. Therefore, hand hygiene is very important in keeping the health care associated infections at minimum.

Types of Hand Hygiene Techniques-

1.   Routine hand washing

2.   Hygienic hand care

3.   Surgical hand washing or hand scrub

 

1. Routine Hand Washing

It involves washing of hands with soap and water. It removes most transient microorganisms from the hands. Routine hand washing should be performed in the following conditions:

·         Before and after contact with patients,

·         Before wearing and after removing gloves,

·         After wound dressing,

·         After contact with body fluids of patients,

·         After handling devices for patient care or having contact with inanimate objects in and around patient.

 

2. Hygiene Hand Care


      ·         Wash hands with soap and water by rubbing hands in the six                    movements by covering all surfaces of hands.

·         Rinse hands with water.

·         Dry hands with single-use towel.

            Alcohol based method

·         When alcohol-based hand rub solution instead of soap, dry hands are required.

·         Wash hands with soap and water by rubbing hands in the six movements by covering all surfaces of hands.

·         Rinse hands with water.

No towel is required for drying as alcohol evaporates in the environment.

 

3. Surgical Hand Washing or Hand Scrub

·         It requires more time for washing than hygiene hand care.

·         Besides hands, wrists and forearms are also included for washing.

·         For drying, sterile towels are used.

 

Indian scenario

In India, the quality of healthcare is governed by various factors, the principal amongst these being whether the health care organization is government or private-sector run. There is also an economic and regional disparity throughout the country. About 75 per cent of health infrastructure, medical manpower and other health resources are concentrated in urban areas, where 27 per cent of the population lives. There is a lack of availability of clean water for drinking and washing. Like in other developing countries, the priority given to prevention and control of HCAI is minimal. This is primarily due to lack of infrastructure, trained manpower, surveillance systems, poor sanitation, overcrowding and understaffing of hospitals, unfavorable social background of population, lack of legislations mandating accreditation of hospitals and a general attitude of non-compliance amongst health care providers towards even basic procedures of infection control. In India, although hand hygiene is imbibed as a custom and promoted at school and community levels to reduce the burden of diarrhea, there is a paucity of information on activities to promote hand hygiene in HCFs. Sporadic reports document the role of hands in spreading infection and isolated efforts at improving hand hygiene across the country.

The practice of compulsory training on standard precautions, safe hospital practices and infection control for all postgraduates upon course-induction, as is being done in a few Delhi medical colleges seems very promising for our country. Such an exercise may be made mandatory across all medical and nursing colleges of India, especially since the “patient safety” is increasingly being prioritized by the Government of India and the country being one of the 120 signatories pledging support to the WHO launched world alliance (available

at http://www.who.int/patientsafery/events/06/statememts/India_pledge.pdf).

 

Conclusion

Hand washing should become an educational priority. Educational interventions for medical students should provide clear evidence that HCWs hands become grossly contaminated with pathogens upon patient contact and that alcohol hand rubs are the easiest and most effective means of decontaminating hands and thereby reducing the rates of HAIs. Increasing the emphasis on infection control, giving the charge of infection control to senior organizational members, changing the paradigm of surveillance to continuous monitoring and effective data feedback are some of the important measures which need to be initiated in Indian hospitals.

One of the reasons microbes have survived in nature is probably their simplicity: a simple genomic framework with genetic encryption of basic survival strategies. To tackle these microbes, human beings will have to follow basic and simple protocols of infection prevention. The health care practitioners in our country need to brace themselves to inculcate the simple, basic and effective practice of hand hygiene in their daily patient care activities and serve as a role model for future generations of doctors, nurses and paramedical personnel.

OBESITY

 

OBESITY


Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. The issue has grown to epidemic proportions, with over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease. 

Rates of overweight and obesity continue to grow in adults and children. From 1975 to 2016, the prevalence of overweight or obese children and adolescents aged 5–19 years increased more than four-fold from 4% to 18% globally.

Obesity is one side of the double burden of malnutrition, and today more people are obese than underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Once considered a problem only in high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries.

Symptoms

Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. To determine your body mass index, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply by 703. Or divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.

BMI

Weight status

Below 18.5

Underweight

18.5-24.9

Normal

25.0-29.9

Overweight

30.0 and higher

Obesity

For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. However, BMI doesn’t directly measure body fat, so some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obesity category even though they don’t have excess body fat.

When to see a doctor

If you’re concerned about weight-related health problems, ask your doctor about obesity management. You and your doctor can evaluate your health risks and discuss your weight-loss options.

What causes obesity?

Eating more calories than you burn in daily activity and exercise — on a long-term basis — can lead to obesity. Over time, these extra calories add up and cause weight gain.

But it’s not always just about calories in and calories out, or having a sedentary lifestyle. While those are indeed causes of obesity, some causes you can’t control.

Common specific causes of obesity include:

  • genetics, which can affect how your body processes food into energy and how fat is stored
  • growing older, which can lead to less muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight
  • not sleep enough, which can lead to hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and crave certain high-calorie foods
  • pregnancy, as weight gained during pregnancy may be difficult to lose and might eventually lead to obesity

Certain health conditions can also lead to weight gain, which may lead to obesity. These include:

  • polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes an imbalance of female reproductive hormones
  • Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare condition present at birth that causes excessive hunger
  • Cushing Syndrome, a condition caused by having high cortisol level (the stress hormones
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) and other conditions that cause pain that may lead to reduced activity.

TYPES

6 Types of Obesity

·         Food Obesity.

·         Thickness due to Nervous Stomach.

·         Gluten diet.

·         Genetic metabolic Obesity.

·         Venous Circulation Obesity.

Health risks of obesity

    

People with obesity have a higher chance of developing these health problems:

·         High blood glucose (sugar) or diabetes.

·         High blood pressure (hypertension).

·         High blood cholesterol and triglycerides (dyslipidemia, or high blood fats).

·         Heart attacks due to coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.

·         Bone and joint problems, more weight puts pressure on the bones and joints. This can lead to osteoarthritis, a disease that causes joint pain and stiffness.

·         Stopping breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). This can cause daytime fatigue or sleepiness, poor attention, and problems at work.

·         Gallstones and liver problems.

·         Some cancers

 How is obesity diagnosed?

BMI is a rough calculation of a person’s weight in relation to their height.

Other more accurate measures of body fat and body fat distribution include:

Your doctor may also order certain tests to help diagnose obesity-related health risks. These may include:

A measurement of the fat around your waist is also a good predictor of your risk for obesity-related diseases.

 

How can overweight and obesity be reduced?

Overweight and obesity, as well as their related noncommunicable diseases, are largely preventable. Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices, by making the choice of healthier foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice (the choice that is the most accessible, available and affordable), and therefore preventing overweight and obesity.

At the individual level, people can:

  • limit energy intake from total fats and sugars;
  • increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and
  • Engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes spread through the week for adults).

Individual responsibility can only have its full effect where people have access to a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, at the societal level it is important to support individuals in following the recommendations above, through sustained implementation of evidence based and population based policies that make regular physical activity and healthier dietary choices available, affordable and easily accessible to everyone, particularly to the poorest individuals. An example of such a policy is a tax on sugar sweetened beverages.

The food industry can play a significant role in promoting healthy diets by:

  • reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods;
  • ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available and affordable to all consumers;
  • restricting marketing of foods high in sugars, salt and fats, especially those foods aimed at children and teenagers; and
  • Ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and supporting regular physical activity practice in the workplace.

Summary

Many factors play a role in the development of obesity. Genetic traits can increase the risk in some people.

Eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of fresh foods and getting regular exercise will reduce the risk of obesity in most people.

However, those with a genetic predisposition to the condition may find it harder to maintain a moderate weight.