Obesity, or excess body fat, is usually caused by consuming too much energy dense food while doing too little exercise to burn off unneeded calories. It is a common problem; in fact the World Health Organisation predicts that worldwide in 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight, and in excess of 700 million people will be obese. Obesity can have serious health effects and increase the risk of life-threatening diseases.
Excess Body Fat and Obesity
Obesity is more than just being a bit overweight. It is the surplus accumulation of body fat underneath the skin (subcutaneous fat), as well as around the abdomen’s internal organs (visceral fat). The more obese a person is, the greater the health risks.
Body mass index (BMI) is used in medical settings to measure obesity in adults, and takes into account a person’s weight and height. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in metres squared, and a BMI of 30 or above indicates obesity. BMI is interpreted as follows:
- Less than 18.5: underweight
- 18.5 - 25.0: normal weight
- 25.0 - 29.9: overweight
- 30.0 or higher: obese
- 40.0 or higher: morbidly obese
Body mass index is not necessarily the best indicator of obesity, as it does not consider the actual distribution of body fat. Excessive abdominal fat, or stomach obesity, presents a greater risk to health than excess fat stored in hips, thighs and buttocks. As waist measurement increases, so does the risk for obesity. A waist circumference of 102cm and above for men, and 88cm and above for women increases the risk of obesity-related health problems.
The Health Effects of Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor for many serious health problems. It increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke, some cancers, gall bladder disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, arthritis, kidney disease, gallstones, surgery complications and infertility. Obesity also increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and type 2 diabetes, which are themselves risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
People who are clinically obese often find themselves dealing with inconvenient and possibly embarrassing day-to-day problems such as getting out of breath easily, difficulty walking and running, knee pain, back ache, excessive sweating and poor skin condition. Obesity can have psychological effects as well as physical, as it may lead to poor body image, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.
Obesity can mean reduced life expectancy and an increased risk of early mortality. A sensible diet, regular exercise and in some cases, medical treatment, is needed to reduce body fat and prevent the health effects of obesity. For help with getting someone to start exercising, read How to Motivate People to do More Exercise.
Sources:
- Netdoctor. “Obesity.” (Accessed 18th September 2009)
- World Health Organisation. “Obesity and Overweight.” (Accessed 18th September 2009)
Sharon Kirby - Sharon is a freelance health writer and contributes to various print and online publications. Writing credits include Nursing Times, Good ...
