Obesity

Obesity is a term used when weight of an individual is in excess than normal desired weight of the body according to age and sex. The individual having excess weight than required according to age are known as obese person. Obesity is defined in different definitions. Excess of body fat is termed as obesity. Obesity term for weight is used only when weight of the body is excessive only due to excess fat content of body. The reason for excess body weight is not only fat but sometimes it may be due to excess muscle weight, bone or water in body , in that cases we do not term person as obese. When weight of an individual is more than 20% of normal body weight than that person is considered as obese. The clear way of measuring obesity is in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI). An individual is considered overweight is his or her body mass index is between 25 and 29, and a person is considered as obese if BMI is more than 30. Obesity shows harmful effect on human body if the overweight of body is more than 50% to 100% of normal weight, or if BMI is more than 40 values. At this stage body become prone to many diseases and overweight shows its harmful effects.

Causes of Obesity

Obesity occurs mainly due to imbalance between energy intake and its utilization that is mismanagement between input and output of energy ion body. Eating more and less physical exertion is lead to this energy equation imbalance.

The related factors are

• Level of activity of body physically
• Genetic factors are also responsible
• Obesity also depends on age, sex, and race.
• Socio economic status leads to change in eating habits. The higher the status more is fast food eating lead to gain weight.
• Cultural factors are also responsible, as every culture have its own eating habits.
• Dietary habits.
• Smoking stoppage
• Pregnancy leads to gain in weight, after menopause due to hormone changes.
• Metabolic factors in body. If Basal metabolic rate is less people are fatty.
• Psychological factors, as in stress condition some people eat more to reduce stress that lead to weight gain.
• Individuals of diabetic history.
• Lactation also one of the factors in females to gain weight.

Obesity Signs and Symptoms

People who are obese are prone to many diseases. Obesity disease is one of the major causes for many diseases. Associated health risks with obesity are

• Hypertension.
• Liver diseases such as fatty liver.
• Stroke.
• Depression.
• Diabetes is also more associated with obese people.
• Heart diseases (coronary heart disease).
• Breathing disorders (sleep apnea), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Joint diseases (e.g. osteoarthritis).
• GERD gastric esophageal reflux disease.
• High level of cholesterol.
• Certain types of cancers are also associated (uterine cancer in women, prostate cancer in men).