Obesity

Obesity is defined as having a surplus of fat cells in the body. This state is easily achieved in some parts of the world today due to abundant food supplies and sedentary lifestyles. One easy way that you can assess your obesity risk right now is to calculate your BMI - body mass index.

BMI =  weight (kg)/ height (m)²

If your BMI is between 20 to 25 then you are in the normal range. If your BMI is under 18 you are most probably malnourished and this predisposes you to many diseases. If your BMI is between 25 and 30 you are considered to be overweight. If your BMI is above 30 you are in the obese category and if it's over 40 it's a measure of extreme obesity. Its good to know that at the same BMI women have more percentage of body fat than men. This system can't be used for bodybuilders or professional athletes, because they can be heavier for normal standards, but have very low amounts of fatty tissue. At a BMI of 25 and higher, all morbidity causes are increased; examples are cancer, metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Where the body fat is localized also influences disease risk. The most dangerous fat is the one around the abdomen. The waist-to-hip ratio is an easy method to know if you have too much belly fat. A ratio of up to 0.9 in women and 1.0 in men is normal.

Obesity can be influenced by different factors such as genes, culture and the environment.

Chronic obesity has been linked to many diseases. Here's a short list of all the health problems obesity predisposes to:

1. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

2. Reproductive Diseases: male hypogonadism, gynecomastia, menstrual abnormalities, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), uterine cancer after menopause

3. Cardiovascular Disorders: hypertension, CAD (coronary artery diseases), CHF (congestive heart failure), stroke, hypercholesterolemia

4. Pulmonary Diseases: breathing difficulties, sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome

5. Cholelithiasis (gallstones)

6.Cancers: in males cancers of the esophagus, colon, rectum, pancreas, liver, prostate and in females cancers of the gallbladder, bile ducts, breasts, endometrium, cervix and ovaries.

7. Musculoskeletal and Cutaneous Diseases: osteoarthritis, gout, acanthosis nigricans, venous stasis, higher risk of fungal and yeast infections

It is not easy to treat obesity, but treatment can be achieved with hard work. The first step is to have a good diet. A low calorie diet (<1000 kcal/day) is suitable for most people. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is preferable to low-fat diets. The Atkins diet is effective for short-term weight loss, but it's not recommended for long-term use. Exercise is the next step that will help lose weight. It should be introduced gradually and very obese people should start performing it under medical supervision. Support groups like Weight Watchers can greatly help individuals to stay motivated and persistent with their diet and exercise plan. There are also many pharmaceutical companies marketing all kinds of drugs for weight loss, but none of these can cure obesity. In addition to all the side effects these medications have, as soon as the drug is stopped, there usually is rebound weight gain. As a last resort surgery is an option for certain individuals, but surgery also has its risks and side effects.