What is Obesity, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
A common definition of obesity is having too much body mass. An adult's BMI of 30 or over is typically considered obese. Severe (formerly "morbid") obesity is defined as having a BMI of 40 or above. Obesity in children is compared to growth charts.
An enduring (chronic) medical disease that gets worse with time is obesity. Adipose tissue, or excess body fat, is what defines obesity and can have negative health effects.
The body mass index (BMI) is a metric used to assess body size that accounts for both height and weight. Usually, doctors utilize it as a tool for obesity screening.
A BMI of 30 or higher is commonly used to identify obesity in adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Serious diseases like the following are linked to an increased risk of obesity:
- Diabetes type 2
- Heart disease
- Cancer
What is Obesity:
Obesity is a complex, chronic illness that can result in excessive body fat and sometimes poor health. Naturally, body fat in and of itself is not a disease. However, an excessive amount of body fat might alter how your body functions. These alterations are gradual, may get worse with time, and may have negative consequences for one's health.
The good news is that reducing part of your excess body fat will lessen your risks for health issues. Your health can be significantly impacted by small weight changes. Not everyone can lose weight with the same method.
Also Read: 9 Health Benefits of Regular Physical Activity - Exercise
Does your Weight Define Obesity?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a regularly used tool by healthcare providers to classify obesity in the general population. Average body weight and average body height are compared using the BMI. In general, medical professionals consider someone to be obese if their BMI is 30 or greater. Even with its limitations, BMI is an easily measurable gauge that can help alert you of the health risks associated with obesity.
Limitations include people who are bodybuilders or athletes, who may have less body fat but have higher muscle mass and BMI scores. It is also possible to be obese while maintaining a "normal" weight. You could be at the same risk for health problems as someone with a higher BMI if your body weight is average but your body fat percentage is high.
Waist circumference measurements are another method of assessing obesity. There is statistical evidence that those with higher waist circumference are more susceptible to diseases associated with obesity. If your birth assignment is female (waist measurement greater than 35 inches) or male (waist measurement greater than 40 inches), you run a serious risk.
Which Three Forms of Obesity Exist?
Healthcare professionals divide obesity into groups according to the severity of the condition. They do it by using BMI. Your BMI classifies you as overweight if it is between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m². Healthcare professionals assess which of three general groups of obesity each patient may fall into when determining the best course of therapy. Among them are:- Obesity class I: BMI of 30 to less than 35 kg/m².
- Obesity class II: BMI of 35 to less than 40 kg/m^.
- Obesity class III: BMI 40 kg/m² or above.
Describe "Morbid" Obesity.
Class III obesity is referred to as "morbid obesity" in medical language. The term "morbidity" in healthcare refers to related health concerns. Class III obesity was referred to as "morbid" by doctors since it was more likely to be associated with other health issues. However, due to its negative implications, they retired the term.
How is Obesity in Children Assessed?
Healthcare professionals also use BMI to determine childhood obesity, but they do it about the child's age and sex. If a child's BMI is more than 95% of those in the same group and they are older than 2 years, they may be labeled with obesity. Depending on the population they are sampling, different growth charts may show slightly different BMI averages.What Symptoms of Obesity are Present?
There aren't any particular signs and symptoms connected to obesity. Based on the following, a physician may make an obesity diagnosis:- visceral fat, or excess, in the abdomen that exceeds the quantity of body fat in other parts of the body.
- A waist circumference that is more than 35 inches for women and more than 40 inches for men.
- a BMI over 30.
Adult BMI Categories:
For adults:- A BMI of less than 18.5 is underweight.
- a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 healthy weight.
- a BMI of 25 to 29.9 overweight.
- A BMI of 30 or higher is obesity.
BMI Categories for Children:
Weight and height in children are shown in percentiles. The BMI percentile of a child is calculated by comparing their BMI to growth charts of children of the same age and gender.- A BMI below the 5th percentile is underweight.
- A BMI between the 5th and the 85th percentile is healthy.
- A BMI between the 85th and 95th percentiles is overweight.
- A BMI in the 95th percentile or above is obesity.
What Causes Obesity?
Obesity can develop over time if you consume more calories overall than you expend via exercise and everyday activity. These additional calories add up over time and result in weight gain.However, leading a sedentary lifestyle or counting calories in and out isn't the only factor to consider. Although you can manage some causes of obesity, those are not the only ones.
Obesity's common specific causes include:
- Genetics, which can have an impact on how your body stores fat and converts food into energy.
- Aging, which can result in a decrease in muscle mass and a reduced metabolic rate, which makes weight gain easier.
- Little sleep, which can cause hormonal changes that increase your appetite and make you seek items high in calories.
- Elevated levels of stress, which could lead to the synthesis of hormones that increase appetite and fat storage.
- Pregnancy, as weight acquired during this time, could be challenging to shed and could ultimately result in obesity.
Obesity may result from weight gain caused by certain medical disorders. Among them are:
- Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing certain major health diseases. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol, and extra fat around the waist.
- An imbalance of hormones known as androgens is the cause of PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
- Prader-Willi syndrome is an uncommon illness that causes an insatiable appetite from birth.
- Cushing syndrome is a disorder brought on by elevated cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the body.
- Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough of certain key hormones.
- Osteoarthritis (OA) and other pain conditions that can cause a person to become less active.
What Complications Arise from Obesity?
More than just weight increase can result from obesity.Your internal organs and bones are strained when you have a high body fat-to-muscle ratio. Additionally, it makes the body more inflammatory, which could be a risk factor for cancer. Another significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity.
Numerous health issues have been connected by researchers to obesity, some of which are potentially fatal if left untreated:
- Diabetes type 2
- Heart diseases
- High blood pressure
- Certain cancers, including endometrial, colon, and breast
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Fatty liver disease
- High cholesterol levels
- Other breathing problems, sleep apnea
- Infertility
- Arthritis
How is a Diagnosis of Obesity Made?
During your visit, your healthcare professional will take your height, weight, and waist circumference measurements.More importantly, your healthcare practitioner will want to know the complete story of your health when you visit them for care. They'll inquire about any past medical issues, prescription drugs, and weight changes. In addition, they'll want to know about your present eating, sleeping, and exercise habits, stress levels, and whether you've ever tried any weight loss plans. They could inquire about the medical history of your biological family.
In addition, they will measure your blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse and listen to your heart and lungs to assess your vital functions. To examine your cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as look for potential hormone issues, they might give you a blood test. Your full profile will be used to diagnose you for obesity and any associated disorders.
How is the Treatment for Obesity?
Your personalized treatment plan will be based on your entire health profile. Your physician will start by treating your most pressing medical issues, and then move on to a longer-term weight-loss strategy. Occasionally, they could suggest minor adjustments that take effect right away, like changing your prescription. The entire course of treatment will likely entail numerous variables and be more slow. It could take some trial and error to determine which therapy is most effective for you, as every person is unique. Extensive, team-based programs that involve regular, face-to-face communication between you and your provider are the most effective in helping people lose weight and keep it off, according to numerous studies.Your treatment may include:
Dietary Changes:
The changes in diet you need to lose weight will be unique to you. Reducing snacking in between meals or portion sizes may help some people. For some, it can be more about altering what they consume than the quantity. Eating more plants is beneficial for almost everyone. Vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruits typically have higher fiber and vitamin content and lower fat content. They can help you feel fuller and more content after consuming fewer calories since they are more healthy.
A Rise in Activity:
It's common knowledge that maintaining and losing weight depends on both nutrition and activity. However, working out doesn't always require going to the gym. For weight loss, walking at a moderate pace is among the most effective forms of exercise. Five days a week for just 30 minutes is what medical professionals recommend. A regular walk before or after work, or at lunch, can help.
Therapy in Behavior:
You may benefit from counseling, support groups, and techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy in your weight loss efforts. You can rewire your brain to support positive changes by using these techniques. They can also assist you in addressing any emotional or psychological issues that might be hindering you and in managing your stress. We are all impacted by our weight and our attempts to lose it, so having both practical and emotional support can be beneficial.
Which Drugs are Recommended to Lose Weight?
Together with diet and exercise plans, a doctor may also prescribe certain prescription drugs for weight loss.If diet and exercise regimens have failed to reduce weight and you have obesity-related health problems in addition to a BMI of 27 or higher, doctors may recommend medication.
Prescription weight-loss drugs can decrease hunger or stop fat from being absorbed. The following drugs are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short-term usage, up to 12 weeks.
Your doctor could suggest taking some medications in addition to other forms of treatment. While they can help approach weight loss from a different perspective, medications aren't the only solution. Appetizers, for instance, can block some brain circuits that influence hunger. This may represent a minor piece of the puzzle to some, but it may represent a bigger piece for others.
Typical FDA-approved medications to treat obesity consist of:
- Orlistat (Xenical®, Alli®): Reduces your gut's absorption of fat.
- Phentermine (Adipex-P®, Lomaira®, Suprenza®): Reduces appetite. It can be used for a maximum of three months at a time.
- Benzphetamine (Didrex®, Regimex®): Reduces hunger.
- Decrease appetite: Diethylpropion (Depletite #2®, Radtue®, Tenuate®).
- Phendimetrazine (Melfiat®, Bontril®): Reduces hunger.
- Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave®): May reduce food intake and cravings.
- Liraglutide (Saxenda®): Delays digestion and decreases appetite.
- Semaglutide (Wegovy®): Inhibits hunger.
- A cellulose and citric acid (Plenity®): blend, fills you up.
- Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia®): Reduces appetite.
- Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse®): aids in the treatment of binge eating disorder symptoms.
- Combination of SGLT2 inhibitors glucagon-like-1 receptor agonists.
Surgery to Lose Weight:
You may be able to benefit from bariatric surgery if you have been diagnosed with class III obesity. A drastic yet very successful long-term weight loss strategy is surgery. Rather than only altering your thoughts or habits, it also modifies your biology. Every bariatric surgery technique modifies your digestive tract in some way. They limit how many calories you can take in and process. Additionally, they alter digestive tract hormones that impact hunger and metabolism.Procedures for bariatric surgery consist of:
- Sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve.
- LAP band, or gastric band.
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
- Duodenal switch.
Prevention:
It is easier to prevent obesity than to treat it once it has taken hold. Your body will adjust to maintain the same body mass despite your weight loss efforts once it has established a new high "set point." If you or your child have recently gained weight, or if there is a history of obesity in your family, you may want to take action sooner rather than later. You can avoid obesity and weight loss struggles in the future by examining your habits and making reasonable changes now.
For example:
Make a small giving. Do you usually reach for a calorie-dense sweet drink or snack as a kind of "pick-me-up"? Think about getting a new one. In a year, an additional 150 calories per day can result in 10 pounds of weight gain.
Include a brief activity. Or think about ways you could burn an additional 150 calories per day. Engaging in 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, such as walking, swimming, or biking; eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet consisting of nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
Purchase with purpose. When you go out, reserve sweets and treats for special occasions and stock your home with healthful foods. Whole foods don't cause your blood sugar to spike and fall like processed snacks and treats do because they are lower on the glycemic index and higher in fiber. Consuming foods heavy in calories and fats, including saturated and trans, in moderation.
Cultivate overall wellness. Reduce your screen time, go outside, and go for a walk. Manage your stress and try to get appropriate sleep to keep your hormone levels in line. Focus on good improvements and healthy activities rather than how your efforts affect your weight.
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