Being overweight or obese can leave people vulnerable to a variety of health risks including serious diseases, some of which can be fatal. The number of obese adults and children is growing worldwide.
What is obesity?
Obesity is typically characterized by an in-balance between the number of calories you eat and calories that are burnt. If the excess calories are not burnt through various physical activities, they will be stored as excess fats in the body.
How to measure obesity?
Obesity is most commonly measured using (BMI), or Body Mass Index. A large proportion of doctors will use it to calculate the obesity levels of their patients and then make an informed decision accordingly.
Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing mass in kilograms with height in meters squared. If the BMI is greater than 30 kg/m2, the patient will undoubtedly be diagnosed to be obese. When the BMI is:
- Less than 18.5, then a person is underweight
- Between 18.5-25, then a person is the ideal body weight
- Between 25-30, then a person is overweight
- Between 30-40, then a person is obese and very obese if BMI exceeds 40
What are the diseases associated with obesity?
The most common health risks associated with obesity is type 2 diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and liver disease. In obese people, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is around 20 times greater.
Statistics show that about 10 percent of all cancer deaths among non-smokers are due to obesity- related diseases. Hypertension is another issue, mainly caused by obesity. Obese people will have a fatty layer around the liver that may lead to cirrhosis.
Tips to reduce some extra fats from the body
The foremost tip to reduce body fat is to increase the level of physical exercise on a daily basis and a healthy diet. The amount of junk food consumed should be reduced.
Be selective with your food habits. Wholesome food is considered good and healthy, so you can replace junk food with it. It can complement your weight loss efforts. You will achieve more desired results of weight loss if you modify your sedentary lifestyle as well as dietary habits.
If you have already become obese, then you should do a consultation with a doctor who can suggest right physical exercises as well as dietary foods for your weight loss program. In addition, the doctor can also recommend the most suitable weight loss drug.
What are the do’s and don’ts for attaining weight loss?
Some studies have found family influences as major contributors to obesity. If some people in a household are following unhealthy behavior, then it affects other members of the family as well in particular children.
Environmental factors will also contribute to the spread of obesity. Cheap, fast food and a competitive market has resulted in more processed foods, generally high in fat content, sugar content and salt.
The increase in the use of cars as primary transport, have also played an integral part in the rise of obesity.
People should take initiatives in order to increase their level of physical activity. Walking or cycling are good forms of exercise along with a variety of enjoyable sports. The governments in respective nations are also liable to play a part in a bid to reduce the level of obesity.