Obesity:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that carries an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure used to indicate a person’s level of overweight, classified as a value higher than 25. It is a numerical calculation derived by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres.
Obesity is a leading risk factor for a range of serious chronic diseases and is the number one cause of death in many parts of the world. The prevalence of diabetes has seen a four-fold increase globally since 1980 and can result in conditions such as blindness, limb amputation and dependence on dialysis. In addition, research has shown links between obesity and other non-communicable diseases such as musculoskeletal disorders and some forms of cancer.
How to tell if you are obese?
As mentioned earlier, the most commonly used method is the BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI is generally considered a good indicator for a healthy weight in an individual. For adults any BMI between 25 to 40 is considered overweight to severely obese. The BMI is not a standard rule for all, as there will be exceptions. A more detailed analysis has to be be performed by a medically trained professional to get more accurate results.
What are the risks of obesity?
Individuals who are overweight or obese compared to a healthy individual are at an increased risk of health conditions such as
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- High LDL Cholesterol
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Strokes
- Gallbladder Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep Apnoea & Breathing Problems
- Many types of cancer
Obesity has also been known to cause psychological conditions like depression and anxiety.
What causes obesity?
Obesity is often caused by an individual not expending enough energy through physical activity when compared to the caloric intake from sugary and/or fatty foods. As a result, the body stores the extra energy as fat. Poor dietary and lifestyle choices have been seen to lead to this same consequence, such as the consumption of large amounts of processed foods, too much alcohol, frequent visits to restaurants, oversized portions, sugary drinks, and a severe reduction or complete lack of physical activity. In some cases, obesity is caused by rare genetic conditions, like Prader-Willi syndrome, or by medical problems like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s syndrome. Additionally, certain medications like epilepsy drugs, diabetes drugs, and antidepressants also have been known to cause weight gain.
How can obesity be treated?
There is no one size fits all when it comes to treating obesity. But a proper diet consisting of fruits & vegetables, bread, rice, some dairy, some meat & eggs and try avoiding foods that are high in salt content.
Visiting a medical professional experienced in the area of dietetics and nutrition for a more tailor-made diet & exercise plan will certainly help the process further.
Underweight:
The other end of the spectrum deals with individuals being underweight. When BMI is under 18, an individual is considered to be underweight.
Being underweight can be caused by a number of factors;
- An overactive thyroid
- An unbalanced diet
- Stress
- Eating Disorders
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Genetics
- High Metabolism
- Chronic Diseases
What are the risks of being underweight?
Not everyone will have the same side effects and experiences from being underweight. However the following symptoms are related to being underweight;
- Osteoporosis
- Skin, Hair & Teeth problems
- Getting sick frequently
- Lethargy
- Anemia
- Irregular periods(for women)
- Impaired growth
What is the treatment?
The main goal for an underweight individual is to gain healthy weight. Some of the techniques to do this include adding high protein snacks to meals, eating several smaller meals a day, incorporating calorie dense foods, avoiding empty calories.
