"Obesity is more than just a cosmetic problem."
A BMI of more than 40 means you are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity carries a very high risk for cardiovascular diseases and severely interferes with a person's normal functioning and quality of life. It is more than just a cosmetic problem.
People who are obese have an excessive amount of body fat. Because muscle weighs more than fat, sometime using only BMI to diagnose obesity can be inaccurate, especially in muscular people like athletes. Therefore, waist circumference is also used to determine the amount of abdominal fat. People who carry too much fat around the middle (central obesity), are more likely to have health problems. Waist measurement greater than 40 inches (101 cm) in men and greater than 35 inches (88 cm) in women are considered to carry increased risk for diseases. In people of Asian descent, greater than 36 inches (90 cm) in men and greater than 32 inches (80cm) in women.
What causes obesity?
A lot of people thinks that obesity is caused simply because one eats too much calories and lacks physical activity. However, there are other factors that also play a role in obesity which include:
- Genetic factor. Obesity tends to run in family. If one's biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is more than 50% chance her offspring will grow to be heavy. This doesn't mean that your genes failed you and convict you to a lifetime of obesity, though. Many people who are genetically predisposed to obesity do not become obese or are able to lose weight and keep it off.
- Age. As your body ages, your metabolism rate slows down and you do not require as many calories to maintain your weight.
- Gender. Women have slower resting metabolism rate than men and thus more prone to obesity.
- Environmental factors, including lifestyle behaviors, what a person eats, and his or her activity.
- Psychological factors. Many people eat in response to emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger.
- Medical conditions. There are some illnesses that can cause obesity, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Arthritis may also cause obesity by restricting physical activity.
- Drugs. Certain drugs such as steroids and antidepressants may cause excessive weight gain.
- Lack of sleep. Getting less than seven hours of sleep at night causes hormonal changes that may increase your appetite.
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| Obesity affects one's quality of life. |
What are the physical and psychological effects of obesity?
Some of the potentially serious health problems you may develop from obesity include: metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer (especially colon and breast cancer), sleep apnea, liver and gallbladder diseases, infertility, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is also associated with low quality of life because of self esteem issues and discrimination that leads to social isolation and depression.
When to seek help?
Contact your doctor or health care provider if you think you may be obese to evaluate your health risks and discuss weight-loss options. You should also seek help if you are having emotional or psychological issues related to obesity.
What are the management options?
Weight loss is usually possible through dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes. In some cases, prescription medications or weight loss surgery may be used under physician's recommendation. Support groups are available to provide help with the psychological aspects of obesity. Stress management and healthy coping strategies are beneficial to increase quality of life.
