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Obesity - The World Wide Health Problem |
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Written by ANIMESH LAHIRI
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Thursday, 31 December 2009 |
 Obesity is something almost all of us experience after we reach wrong side of forty. An average Indian boasts (?) of a healthy pot belly. In fact it is rare to find a man who does not have a weight problem.
In scientific terms obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems.
Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type-2 diabetes, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive dietary calories, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility, although a few cases are caused solely by genes, endocrine disorders, medications or psychiatric illness.
Obesity is defined by body mass index (BMI) and also in
terms of fat distribution via the waist-hip ratio and total cardiovascular risk
factors. BMI is closely related to both percentage body fat and total body fat
BMI is calculated by dividing the subject's mass by the square of his or her
height, typically expressed either in metric or US "customary" units:
Metric: BMI
= kilograms / meters2
US customary and imperial: BMI = lb * 703 / in2
BMI Classification < 18.5 underweight
18.5-24.9 normal weight
25.0-29.9 overweight
30.0-34.9 class I obesity
35.0-39.9 class II
obesity
≥ 40.0
class III obesity
Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of death
worldwide. Large-scale American and European studies have found that mortality
risk is lowest at a BMI of 22.5-25 kg/m2 in non-smokers and at
24-27 kg/m2 in current smokers, with risk increasing along with
changes in either direction. A BMI above 32 has been associated with a doubled mortality
rate among women over a 16-year period. In the United States obesity is
estimated to cause an excess 111,909 to 365,000 death per year, while 1 million
(7.7%) of deaths in the European Union are attributed to excess weight. On
average, obesity reduces life expectancy by six to seven years: a BMI of
30-35 reduces life expectancy by two to four years, while severe obesity (BMI > 40)
reduces life expectancy by 10 years. (Wikipedia).
The main cause of obesity is intake of high calorie diet and sedentary life
style. Most of the extra calories come from an increase in carbohydrate
consumption rather than fat consumption. The food we generally take contain
excess of sugar, fat and white flour. These are high in calories and deficient
in nutrients. Also the agricultural practices prevalent now (3 or more growths
in a year) makes it lacking in impurities and nutrients. Storage of food
articles for a long period of time ( summer food items in winter and vice
versa) takes a lot from the food value from them. Coloring, use of pesticides
in agriculture make them even dangerous for consumption. Again the way they are
cooked (lots of oil and other fat containing cooking mediums) make them high in
carbohydrates and fat. Consumption of sweetened beverages is also a big cause
for the rising rates of obesity.
As societies become increasingly reliant on energy-dense, big-portion,
fast-food meals, the association between fast-food consumption and obesity
becomes more concerning. In the United
States consumption of fast-food meals
tripled and calorie intake from these meals quadrupled between 1977 and 1995.
The per capita dietary energy supply varies markedly between different
regions and countries. It has also changed significantly over time. From the
early 1970s to the late 1990s the average calories available per person per day
(the amount of food bought) has increased in all parts of the world except Eastern Europe. The United States had the highest
availability with 3,654 calories per person in 1996. This increased
further in 2003 to 3,754. During the late 1990s Europeans had
3,394 calories per person, in the developing areas of Asia there were
2,648 calories per person, and in sub-Saharan Africa
people had 2,176 calories per person. Total calorie consumption has been
found to be related to obesity.(Wikipedia).In India 65% of urban population and
32 % of rural population are either overweight or obese. Also 75% of women and
54% of men in India
have abdominal obesity.
Sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in obesity. Worldwide there has
been a large shift towards less physically demanding work, and currently at
least 60% of the world's population gets insufficient exercise. This is
primarily due to increasing use of mechanized transportation and a greater
prevalence of labor-saving technology in the home. In children there appears to
be declines in levels of physical activity due to less walking and physical
education. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in
21st century, with rising rates in both the developed and developing
world. Rates of obesity in Canadian boys have increased from 11% in 1980s to
over 30% in 1990s, while during this same time period rates increased from 4 to
14% in Brazilian children
Diets to promote weight loss are generally divided into four categories: low-fat,
low-carbohydrate, low-calorie, and very low calorie. A meta-analysis of six
randomized controlled trials found no difference between three of the main diet
types (low calorie, low carbohydrate, and low fat), with a 2-4 kilogram
(4.4-8.8 lb) weight loss in all studies. At two years these three methods
resulted in similar weight loss irrespective of the macronutrients emphasized.
Very low calorie diets provide 200-800 kcal/day, maintaining protein
intake but limiting calories from both fat and carbohydrates. They subject the
body to starvation and produce an average weekly weight loss of
1.5-2.5 kilograms (3.3-5.5 lb). These diets are not recommended for
general use as they are associated with adverse side effects such as loss of
lean muscle mass, increased risks of gout, and electrolyte imbalances. There
are any number of diet plans available in the market. I personally have
followed Herbalife diet satisfactorily (with 5kgs of weight loss in a month)
without any side effects.
With use, muscles consume energy derived from both fat and glycogen.
Due to the large size of leg muscles, walking, running, and cycling are the
most effective means of exercise to reduce body fat. Exercise affects
macronutrient balance. During moderate exercise, equivalent to a brisk walk,
there is a shift to greater use of fat as a fuel. To maintain health the American
Heart Association recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise at
least 5 days a week.
Weight loss programs often promote lifestyle changes and diet modification.
This may involve eating smaller meals, cutting down on certain types of food,
and making a conscious effort to exercise more. These programs also enable
people to connect with a group of others who are attempting to lose weight, in
the hopes that participants will form mutually motivating and encouraging
relationships.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 May 2010 )
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