Rising Health Issues Due to OBESITY. 

Self love starts with your physical health .But in our fast moving world, a sedentary lifestyle has taken us miles away from this self care , thus giving rise to many health issues including obesity which is among the root causes for other ailments. 

What is OBESITY ?

According to WHO, obesity can be defined as –A disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.

According to stats, the global estimates suggest that almost 2.3 billion children and adults are living with overweight and obesity. If the current trend  continues, 2.7 billion adults could be living with overweight or obesity by 2025.

• The island country of Nauru is the most obese in the world with obesity affecting 61.0% of the adult population, according to the most recent data available from the World Health Organization (WHO) as of 26 March, 2020.
• India is the third most obese country in the world.

Who is obese?

• Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.
• BMI is a relatively accurate indicator of body fitness for most people.

How to calculate BMI?

• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms (or pounds) divided by the square of height in metres (or feet). A high BMI can indicate high body fatness.
• You can calculate your BMI using online softwares available these days (for calculating bmi ).
• A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.

Types of obesity –

On the basis of BMI, they include :

• Class I obesity :  BMI  30 to <35 kg/m².
• Class II obesity : BMI 35 to <40 kg/m².
• Class III obesity : BMI 40+ kg/m².

On the basis of health issues

1. Normal weight obese
2. Metabolically obese normal weight
3. Metabolically healthy obese
4. Metabolically unhealthy obese

What causes obesity & overweight?

• Food and Activity – People often gain weight because of more calories intake than required and less activity.
• Environment – The world around us influences our ability to maintain a healthy weight.
• Genetics. 
• Health Conditions and Medications. 
• Stress, Emotional Factors, and Poor Sleep.

Effects of obesity 

• All-causes of death (mortality)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (dyslipidemia)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems
• Many types of cancers

Effects on pregnancy

Over an estimated gain of 10-20 kgs of weight can occur during the whole course of pregnancy.

Obese women suffer more during pregnancy due to certain ailments like

• Gestational diabetes
• Hypertension
• Digestive disorders

Complications during parturition can also occur that can lead to difficulty in delivery of the baby  forcing them to opt for caesarean or c section.

Many diseases can also appear in the newborn child like type 1 diabetes or cretinism due to hormonal disturbance caused during the term of pregnancy.

Sometimes the child born can also be overweight.

Mental health problems

In addition to increasing the risk for developing physical health problems, obesity can also affect mental health, increasing the risk for developing

1. long-term stress
2. body image problems
3. low self-esteem
4. Depression 
5. Eating disorders 

How to cope up with your weight?

• Choosing healthier foods (whole grains, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and protein sources) and beverages.
•  Limiting unhealthy foods (refined grains and sweets, potatoes, red meat, processed meat) and beverages (sugary drinks) Increasing physical activity. Limiting television time, screen time, and other “sit time” aids in preventing obesity.

• Cardio or low impact workout at least thrice a week is also necessary for health.
•  Bringing  a calorie deficit of -500 kcal in your daily food  intake  will help you to lose weight.
• Skipping meals should be strictly avoided
•  It is important to always read the nutrition labels to ensure that low-calorie products are chosen.
• Add protein to your diet ·  Prioritise whole, single-ingredient foods ·  Limit processed foods · 

Losing weight is not a one day game, rather it requires your consistent efforts. Inculcating healthy habits into your lifestyle is the only key to losing weight. 

But remember ,your body is a precious gift so let’s love, respect , and prioritise our body because we  only have one!!!

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-Chahhat Maini (BDS PGDCH & Author MCD)

Editor: Mili (MBBS , Social media director & Senior Editor, MCD)