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What Is Obesity?

Are you overweight, on the verge of becoming obese. Learn what cause obesity, what are the health risk associated with obesity and how to treat obesity.

The term obesity is used to describe the health condition of anyone significantly above his or her ideal healthy weight. An obese person accumulates so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on his/her health. So, understanding the causes, prevention steps and treatment methods for finding a cure to obesity is necessary if you feel you are over weight

Obese Man
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries.

What is obesity? 

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in our body that presents a high risk to our health. A certain amount of body fat is required for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions of the body. Obesity is a chronic condition of excess body fat in a person. BMI is used to measure the body body fat based on height proportionate to weight.

What is BMI?

Body mass index ( BMI ) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2). If a person's bodyweight is at least 20% higher than what it should be, he or she is considered obese.

Are you obsessed or overweight? Use this BMI calculater to calculate your Body Mass Index.

BMI is considered to be a useful way to estimate healthy body weight, but it does not measure the percentage of body fat. Hence, the BMI measurement can sometimes be misleading as a bodybuilder or a fit muscleman may have a high BMI but have much less fat than an unfit person whose BMI is lower. However, in general, the BMI measurement can be a useful indicator for the 'average person'.

Cause of obesity: Why do people become obese?

Obesity is caused by a number of factors collectively they are as under:

1) Excess calorie consumption-People are eating much more than they used to be. If you take in more calories than are required by your body on a daily basis (known as "energy imbalance"), those surplus calories will be converted into fat. If this energy imbalance continues for an extended period of time, it will lead to overweight or obesity. Overeating is the biggest reason for obesity.

2) Sedentary lifestyle-The busy schedule and work pressure of the modern world leaves no time for some individuals to care about their dietary habits and physical workouts and to add to this the arrival of televisions, computers, video games, remote controls, washing machines, dish washers and other modern convenience devices and luxury items are the reasons behind sedentary lifestyle peoples enjoy today as compared to their parents and grandparents.

3) Genetic Problems-According to Journal of Clinical Investigations(july 2013) some people have a faulty gene known as FTO which makes them to overeat. These people prefer to eat high-energy, fatty foods, and usually to take much longer to reach satiety (feeling of being full) and become obese. At the same time, some others are born with a genetically obese behavior passed on as a hereditary process.

4) Lack of sleep-According to scientists sleep deprivation can significantly increase obesity risk. Getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can cause changes in hormones that increase your appetite. You may also crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain. If you do not sleep enough your risk of becoming obese doubles. 

5) Certain medication or medical problems-Clinically significant weight gain is associated with some commonly prescribed medicines. Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications, anti-psychotic medications, steroids and beta blockers.

6) Unhealthy diet and eating habits-Poorly balanced diets and the lack of physical exercise are key factors in the increase of obesity and other metabolic diseases in modern societies. Consuming "fructose" a type of sugar in beverages alters lipid energy mechanism. Fructose increases nonsatisfying triglycerides in obese adults. Disrupting gut and brain signals making a person to overeat and become obese. 

Hence, having a diet that's high in calories, having fructose rich beverages, eating fast food, skipping breakfast, eating most of your calories at night, drinking high-calorie beverages and eating oversized portions all contribute to weight gain.


Are you at risk?

The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. 

Globally, there has been, an increased intake of energy-dense foods( fast food, soft drinks and other food and beverages laden with high fructose corn syrup.) that are high in fat, salt and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other micro-nutrients. and a decrease in physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization.

Anyhow, both these situations have lead to a scenario, where people are increasingly becoming unfit and over weighed.

Some Other Causes Of Obesity
Genetics
Overeating
High diet in carbohydrates
Frequency of eating
Slow metabolism
Physical inactivity
Medications
Psychological factors

If you think you can be obese, especially if you are concerned about health problems related to your weight, consult your doctor or health care provider. You and your doctor can assess your risk for health and discuss options available for you to lose weight. Although small weight loss can reduce or prevent problems related to obesity.

What are the health risks associated with obesity? 

According to WHO  out of the world's 6 billion people, 1 billion are overweight and Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2008, 1.5 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese. Research Scientists said that more than 42% of American population will be obese till 2030.


Obese Woman
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries.

Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. In addition, 44% of the diabetes burden, 23% of the ischemic heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are attributable to overweight and obesity.

Varicose veins, hypertension, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, vascular disease, heartburn, fatty liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, joint disease, stroke, dementia, depression, infertility, menstrual abnormalities, pregnancy abnormalities, asthma, cellulose, fungal skin infections, cancers, poor healing of wounds and infections are also associated with obesity.


Treatment And Cure: 
The goal of obesity treatment is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. You may need to work with a team of health professionals, including nutrition, dietician, therapist or an obesity specialist, to help you understand and make changes in diet and activity habits.

The treatment methods that are right for you depend on your level of obesity, your overall health and your willingness to participate in your weight-loss plan. Other treatment tools include:
Methods of treatment for you depends on your level of obesity, your overall health and your willingness to participate in the plan of your weight loss. And other processes include:
  • Dietary changes
  • Exercise and activity
  • Behavior change
  • Prescription weight-loss medications
  • Weight-loss surgery
The most safest way to get your weight under control and remain at an ideal weight for life, is sticking to a healthy routine where you are free from excessive food cravings and an appetite in overdrive.The primary factor that will determine whether you are successful at losing weight is "how ready you are for the change". In order to experience positive changes, you must adopt the fallowing habits:
  • limit energy intake from total fats; 
  • Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; 
  • limit the intake of sugars; 
  • Engage in regular physical activity; 
  • Achieve energy balance and a healthy weight. 
  • Monitoring excessive fat intake. 
  • Eating 3 balanced moderate meals everyday. 
  • Exercising regularly to increase the metabolic rate. 
Are you suffering from obesity and want to lose weight? First try to understand the exact cause of your obesity or childhood obesity and than put some dedicated efforts.

You can also use these top 20 home remedies for obesity and within a short period, you will be able to transform your body into a good healthy soul and can enjoy a healthy happy living.

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