Obesity is a term used to define a condition in which a person has excessive body fat and a BMI over 30. Obesity is a major concern because it increases a person’s risk for other health problems and certain diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Obesity is determined by the use of the body mass index measurement in which a persons height and weight is measured to determine the ratio of their size to their mass.
While obesity occurs when a person reaches a body mass index of 30 or more, there is an even more dangerous state in which a person reaches a BMI of 40 or more. This is considered morbid obesity and can have deadly effects on the organs and the body. People who suffer from morbid obesity are likely to have other serious health problems as a result of the obesity.
The obesity rate has increased over the years and today it is estimated that 1 in three adults is obese. With the obesity increases comes the increase of various health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Obesity can be prevented and it can be treated. Weight loss can reverse many of the health consequences associated with obesity.
Symptoms of Obesity
Various symptoms can be related to obesity in adults. Adults who are overweight or obese may have difficulty sleeping, they may snore or they may suffer from sleep apnea which is a condition in which the person actually stops breathing in their sleep. Additionally, obese people may have excessive pain in their backs or the joints from the added weight that the body is required to carry around.
Obesity is also the cause of certain rashes and infections of the skin. People who are obese may have folds of the skin which as breeding grounds for bacteria that can grow various infections on the skin. Excessive sweating makes matters even worse.
Obesity also causes depression and sometimes anxiety. People who are obese may have tried to lose weight in the past and were unsuccessful in their attempts. This can cause depression and feelings of low self worth or low self-esteem. Additionally, anxiety may result from the obesity as well.
Obesity Causes and Risk Factors
Obesity is caused by excessive calorie intake that is not counteracted by exercise. Put simply, obesity is the result of eating more calories that you burn during the day through physical activity. Excess calories that are not burned are stored as fat and excessive fat is what makes a person obese. Although there are certain biological factors that can cause obesity, the majority of adult obesity cases are the result of poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and in some cases medications.
Obesity doesn’t just happen. People who are inactive or do not exercise regularly are at a higher risk of becoming obese. Sedentary lifestyles create the perfect backdrop for adult obesity. Additionally, poor diet also contributes largely to the risk of becoming obese. People who eat fast food, skip breakfast or eat most of their calories at night are at an increased risk of becoming obese.
Long term smokers who quit smoking are at an increased risk of becoming obese. For many people who quit smoking it is not uncommon to put on at least a few pounds and for some the weight gain is very significant. Quitting smoking has been linked to gaining weight and for some people this weight gain continues for many months after the smoking stops which can easily lead to obesity.
Certain social and economic factors are also linked to increased risk of obesity. People who do not have access to exercise or cannot safely exercise near their home are at a great risk of becoming obese than those who live in rural communities that have adequate access to safe exercise. Additionally, some people are at a greater risk of obesity just because they cannot afford to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are required for healthy meals. Processed foods increase the risk of weight gain and subsequent obesity.
Effects of Obesity
Various side effects result from obesity in addition to the visible weight gain. Some of the negative side effects of obesity can create potentially deadly health problems for the obese individual. Obesity has been linked to cancer of the uterus, cervix and colon as well as to prostate cancer and breast cancer. Heart disease, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease are also linked to obesity.
People who are obese are at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, sleeping problems such as sleep apnea and even various skin problems. Obese people tend to have a decreased quality of life as well because they cannot perform or do many things that an individual who is of a healthy weight could do. People who are obese may have sexual problems, they may have physical discomforts and they likely will suffer from shame, low self-esteem and depression as a result of the excessive weight gain.
Treatments for Obesity
Obesity treatment focuses on maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the side effects associated with the prolonged weight gain. Gradually, over time, people who are obese but who attend treatment for obesity will have an increased quality of life that results in reduced depression, anxiety and many of the other low self worth feelings being eliminated or at least lessened.
Various types of rehab centers and eating disorder treatment centers offer treatment for obesity. Numerous health professionals will work at eating disorder rehab centers to provide treatment for obesity. Dietitians, nutritionists, and medical doctors may all work together to create a care plan or treatment plan for an individual. Often times the treatment for obesity will also include therapy or counseling to determine why the person gained so much weight (ie. Food and stress, medical condition, genetic disorder, etc).
The most common treatment methods for obesity include dietary changes, increased exercise and physical activity, behavioral changes, medications, and in some cases, weight loss surgery. In most cases, a combination of treatments will be used to help a person suffering from obesity to achieve a healthy body weight. Dietary changes, increased physical activity and certain behavioral changes are very important.
Individuals who do not respond significantly to dietary changes, activity increase and behavior changes may require weight loss medications or weight loss surgery in order to get back to a healthy body weight. Weight loss medications include Meridia and Xenical which have both been approved by the FDA. Although there are many different weight loss medications on the market it is recommended that you consult a doctor before taking any weight loss medication.
In more recent years weight loss surgery has also become a common method of treatment for obesity. For people who are extremely obese with a BMI of more than 40 or who have a serious weight related health problem such as diabetes or high blood pressure, weight loss surgery may be the best treatment. Weight loss surgery can help people who suffer from obesity to lose as much as 50% of their body weight without major dietary or exercise changes. Gastric bypass surgery largely depends on a persons commitment to dietary changes, exercise increase and behavioral changes in order for the weight loss to be successful.
