Obesity is defined as having too much body fat, which develops when the intake of fats for the use of energy exceeds its expenditure. It is measured as body mass index (BMI). To know more about BMI, please Click Here
Obesity is a growing problem around the world. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is emerging as an epidemic and is spreading rapidly across the world. In the US, an estimated 97 million adults are overweight or obese which represents more than 50% of the American adult population. Among them, 11 million adults suffer from severe obesity.
According to the American Obesity Association, obesity poses an increased risk of death by 50-100% when compared to normal weight, with 300,000 to 587,000 annual deaths. Owing to the significant increase in health risks, obesity has become the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the US.
A variety of factors contribute to obesity which makes it a complex health issue to address. A combination of any or all of the following is considered:
A few cases are caused primarily by genes, endocrine disorders, medications, or mental illness. Evidence to support the view that obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is not generally supported. On average, obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a method of assessing whether an individuals weight falls within the healthy range or not. It is a good indicator of body fat. BMI does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. Hence, body builders and people with muscle bulk show a high BMI although they are not overweight or obese. BMI is an easy-to-perform and inexpensive method to ascertain if a persons present weight could potentially lead to health problems in the future.
However, remember that BMI is not a diagnostic tool. To know whether your excess weight could be a health risk in the future, please visit your physician. Your physician can guide you for further assessments which include:
Calculate your body mass index (BMI), by entering the following information.
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If you want to compare your weight status to others, BMI is a great method of analysis.
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Obesity is associated with many serious physiological, psychological and social consequences, as listed below.
Physiological consequences of obesity are:
Psychological and social consequences of obesity are:
Other consequences include:
