Obesity
The collection of an excessive amount of body fat is termed obesity. It may be harmful to health and is the hallmark of obesity, a medical disorder. Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to measure it. BMI is computed by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters (kg/m2).
Obesity is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having a BMI of 30 or higher. It’s crucial to remember that BMI is only one measure of obesity and does not take into consideration other elements like muscle mass or fat distribution.
A complicated condition, obesity is impacted by a mix of behavioral, environmental, and hereditary variables. Among the frequent causes of obesity are:
Age: At middle age, people have a greater tendency to become obese, Anyhow,obesity is present among all age groups.
Sex: Females have a greater tendency to gain weight, particularly during puberty and during pregnancy.
Profession: Persons belonging to certain professions have “weight gain” tendencies more than others.These are cooks,bermen and whose nature of job is secondary, i-e.
Socio-economic condition: obesity has been found more among lower socio-economic groups in western countries, in contrast to this world, where prosperous people are more obese.
Endocrine disorders: Certain diseases of the endocrine glands are associated with obesity, i.e., hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, hypogonadism and hypopituitarism.
Hereditary: People from certain families show an increased tendency to gain weight. After this observation, a genetic predisposition has been postulated. Anyhow, no gene has been found responsible for obesity until now.
Unhealthy Diet: A diet heavy in calories, sugar, and bad fats, along with a low consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, might make you gain weight.
Eating habits:increased eating tendency is not always owing to polyphagia. this may be influenced by external factors i.e. availability advertisement ,smell, test and appearance of food. certain persons under pscychological upset, eat more i.e.during depression.
Drugs: The use of certain drugs, such as steroids, phenothiazenes, oral contraceptives and insulin,leads to obesity.
Absence of Exercise: Low levels of exercise, which are associated with sedentary lives, can cause weight gain and obesity.
Environmental variables: A person’s diet and level of physical activity can be influenced by environmental variables such as urbanization, socioeconomic position, and easy access to harmful food options.
Psychological elements: Stress, despair, and traumatic experiences are examples of emotional elements that can lead to binge eating and weight gain.
Complications of obesity:
Obesity is linked to a number of health issues and a higher chance of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, specific cancers, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Prevention of obesity:
Behavioral therapy, dietary modifications, increased physical activity, and, in certain situations, medical therapies such as prescription drugs or bariatric surgery are often used in the management and prevention of obesity. The main goals of prevention initiatives are frequently to encourage regular exercise, a healthy diet, and the creation of surroundings that encourage these behaviors.
Treatment of obesity:
The treatment of obesity depends on two important factors.
- To reduce the energy input.
- To increase the energy output.
Reduction of the energy input: Total daily energy intake should be between 800 and 1600 kcal, depending upon age, gender,sex and job of the person.A housewife with moderate obesity needs 1000 kcal/day, while a young man doing an active physical job needs about 1500 kcal/day. The patients are given a balanced diet that comprises proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Along with these basic elements, care is taken to provide a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals.
Increase in energy output: energy output is increased by doing physical work, i.e., exercise. The best exercise, irrespective of age, is walking. Walking at a speed of 3 miles per hour will cost us 240 kcal. Other exercises are gardening, swimming, and yoga.
Surgical treatment of obesity:
In very resistant cases, following surgical procedures is advised.
- Wiring of the jaws: The jaws are wired so that the patient can only take a liquid diet.
- Stapling of the stomach: Stomach size is reduced by stapling a portion of the stomach. This is a reversible process.
- Intestinal bypass: Operation is due to bypassing the small intestine. This procedure results in malabsorption syndrome.