Obesity is an individual clinical condition. However, research reveals that it is now becoming a serious public health proble, increasing by the day. The condition is predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis.
Obesity is evaluated in absolute terms by measuring BMI. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. Along with caculating the body mass index, obesity is also evaluated in terms of its distribution through waist circumference. In addition, the presence needs to be checked in the context of other medical conditions that could influence risk of complications.
BMI, or body mass index, which is very important to the evaluation of obesity, is a widely used method for estimating body fat. BMI is calculated by dividing the patient’s weight by the square of the height and expressing the answer in metric or customary units.
The World Health Organization has specified a BMI less than 18.5 as under weight and a BMI of 18.5–24.9 as normal. Its directives to the medical fraternity specify a BMI of 25.0–29.9 as over weight and one of 30.0–39.9 as obese.
Physicians consider race, ethnicity and lean mass or muscularity, while checking for obesity. The person’s age and sex are also factors that affect the interpretation of BMI.
Mild obesity is not a cardiac risk factor and hence in this case, BMI cannot be used as a sole epidemiological predictor of cardiovascular health.
It is essential to know that BMI does not take into account differing ratios of adipose to lean tissue. It also does not distinguish between the different forms of adiposity.
The absolute waist circumference or the waist to hip ratio is used to measure central obesity. Research reveals that waist circumference explains obesity-related health risk better than BMI.
Obesity can also be determined by assessing body fat percent. Men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% are defined obese. The most accepted method to measure body fat precisely, so far, has been to weigh a person underwater, with special equipment. The other two simpler methods are the skinfold test and the bio-electrical impedance analysis. However, their routine use is discouraged.
The risk factors and diseases that are commonly associated with obesity are also used to establish a clinical diagnosis of the condition. In fact, sleep apnea and coronary heart diseases are life-threatening risk factors that indicate clinical treatment of obesity.
Mortality is increased in obesity. Infact, a BMI of over 32 is associated with a doubled risk of death! This kind of BMI alters the body's response to insulin and increases the tendency to a prothrombotic state.
Mmale-type or waist-predominant obesity is characterised by a high waist-hip ratio and is an important risk factor for the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors connected with cardiovascular disease.
Most research reveals that the combination of excessive nutrient intake and sedentary lifestyle is the main cause for obesity in Western society. Despite the widespread awareness, it is evident that overeating remains a problem.
An increasingly sedentary lifestyle also plays a role in the onset of obesity and so does a well established and possibly underinvestigated life style. These are characterized by insufficient sleep, intake of food substances that interfere with lipid metabolism, decreased rates of smoking that invariably suppresses appetite, increased use of medication and pregnancy at a later age.
The calorific imbalance that results in obesity is determined to be the result of a number of related genetic and environmental factors. There are polymorphisms in various genes that control appetite and metabolism. Various genetic conditions that feature obesity have been identified.
On a population level, there are certain ethnic groups that are more prone to obesity than others. Individuals with greater adipose reserves are more likely to survive famine. Mental illnesses also increase obesity risk, like eating disorders.
The role of bacteria in the digestive tract in the development of obesity is also being investigated. Bacteria participate in digestion and hence, alterations in the proportion of particular strains could explain the cause.
When income differentials are factored, it is observed that thin subjects were inherit more wealth. A higher rate of a lower level of education also plays a significant role. It is also observed that women married into higher status are predictably thinner than women married into the lower strata.
Obesity is evaluated in absolute terms by measuring BMI. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. Along with caculating the body mass index, obesity is also evaluated in terms of its distribution through waist circumference. In addition, the presence needs to be checked in the context of other medical conditions that could influence risk of complications.
BMI, or body mass index, which is very important to the evaluation of obesity, is a widely used method for estimating body fat. BMI is calculated by dividing the patient’s weight by the square of the height and expressing the answer in metric or customary units.
The World Health Organization has specified a BMI less than 18.5 as under weight and a BMI of 18.5–24.9 as normal. Its directives to the medical fraternity specify a BMI of 25.0–29.9 as over weight and one of 30.0–39.9 as obese.
Physicians consider race, ethnicity and lean mass or muscularity, while checking for obesity. The person’s age and sex are also factors that affect the interpretation of BMI.
Mild obesity is not a cardiac risk factor and hence in this case, BMI cannot be used as a sole epidemiological predictor of cardiovascular health.
It is essential to know that BMI does not take into account differing ratios of adipose to lean tissue. It also does not distinguish between the different forms of adiposity.
The absolute waist circumference or the waist to hip ratio is used to measure central obesity. Research reveals that waist circumference explains obesity-related health risk better than BMI.
Obesity can also be determined by assessing body fat percent. Men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% are defined obese. The most accepted method to measure body fat precisely, so far, has been to weigh a person underwater, with special equipment. The other two simpler methods are the skinfold test and the bio-electrical impedance analysis. However, their routine use is discouraged.
The risk factors and diseases that are commonly associated with obesity are also used to establish a clinical diagnosis of the condition. In fact, sleep apnea and coronary heart diseases are life-threatening risk factors that indicate clinical treatment of obesity.
Mortality is increased in obesity. Infact, a BMI of over 32 is associated with a doubled risk of death! This kind of BMI alters the body's response to insulin and increases the tendency to a prothrombotic state.
Mmale-type or waist-predominant obesity is characterised by a high waist-hip ratio and is an important risk factor for the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors connected with cardiovascular disease.
Most research reveals that the combination of excessive nutrient intake and sedentary lifestyle is the main cause for obesity in Western society. Despite the widespread awareness, it is evident that overeating remains a problem.
An increasingly sedentary lifestyle also plays a role in the onset of obesity and so does a well established and possibly underinvestigated life style. These are characterized by insufficient sleep, intake of food substances that interfere with lipid metabolism, decreased rates of smoking that invariably suppresses appetite, increased use of medication and pregnancy at a later age.
The calorific imbalance that results in obesity is determined to be the result of a number of related genetic and environmental factors. There are polymorphisms in various genes that control appetite and metabolism. Various genetic conditions that feature obesity have been identified.
On a population level, there are certain ethnic groups that are more prone to obesity than others. Individuals with greater adipose reserves are more likely to survive famine. Mental illnesses also increase obesity risk, like eating disorders.
The role of bacteria in the digestive tract in the development of obesity is also being investigated. Bacteria participate in digestion and hence, alterations in the proportion of particular strains could explain the cause.
When income differentials are factored, it is observed that thin subjects were inherit more wealth. A higher rate of a lower level of education also plays a significant role. It is also observed that women married into higher status are predictably thinner than women married into the lower strata.
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