Obesity

What is Obesity?

Obesity, the excess accumulation of body fat and is a chronic condition that is expanding at an alarming rate as a major health concern throughout the world.

Obesity, one of the chronic conditions is caused by various factors. One or more of the below mentioned factors may cause obesity.

• Energy Imbalance: Obesity happens gradually if the amount of energy or calories you consume is more than the amount of energy spent on your daily activities.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: People leading an inactive or sedentary lifestyle are more likely to become obese as they do not burn down the calories they consume.
• Environmental factors: Lack of safe places for exercising and walking (sidewalks or parks), busy work schedule, eating larger food portions, and junk food are contributing factors to gain weight.
• Family history: The genes inherited from your parents have an effect the amount of fat stored in your body and your chances of being obese is higher if one or both your parents are obese. Obesity tends to run in families.
• Disease conditions: Hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome may cause weight gain.
• Medicines: Certain medicines such as corticosteroids, antidepressants and seizure medications are known to decrease the rate of metabolism, increase your appetite and retain excess water in the body leading to weight gain.
• Emotional factors: Unusual eating habits such as excessive eating when under stress or anger. Overeating will cause weight gain.
• Age: Aging results in muscle loss in the body which is even more if you are inactive. Muscle loss reduces the calorie consumption and consequently uncontrolled diet may increase the chances of becoming obese.

Consequences of Obesity

If you are obese, severely obese, or morbidly obese, you may have the following health consequences:

• Major health consequences
  • Premature death (shorter life expectancy): Obese people have a 50% to 100% increased risk of premature death
  • Obese people have more risk for heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers (breast, uterine, colon), breathing difficulties (e.g., sleep apnea, asthma), arthritis, pregnancy complications, gall bladder problems, urinary incontinence, depression and digestive disorders (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Risks to psychological and social well-being
  • Negative self-image
  • Social isolation
  • Discrimination
• Difficulties with day-to-day living
  • Normal tasks become harder when you are obese
  • You tend to tire more quickly and you find yourself short of breath
  • Public transport seats, telephone booths, and cars may be too small for you
  • You may find it difficult to maintain personal hygiene

Treatment for Obesity

It is important to modify your diet and be involved in physical activities to lose excess weight and maintain the weight loss over the long term.

• Diet and exercises
  

  Regular physical activity combined with healthy eating habits is the most efficient and healthful way to control your weight. Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat.

• Medications
  

  Most available weight-loss medications are "appetite-suppressant" medications. Appetite-suppressant medications promote weight loss by decreasing appetite or increasing the feeling of being full. These medications decrease appetite by increasing serotonin or catecholamine - two brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite. Prescription weight-loss medications should be used only when there is increased medical risk because of your weight and not for cosmetic reasons.