Obesity is turning into a non-communicable epidemic all across the world. Especially in developing nations like India, Obesity is growing at a rapid rate. Usually, people associate obesity with fat people, however, you must realise that even a comparably thinner person be obese. Obesity is a health condition which occurs when you carry excess weight or body fat. The excess fat sometimes affects the health severely. When a person consumes more calories than they the energy they burn, their body begins to store the extra calories as fat. The extra fat leads to weight gain and obesity. Obesity is not directly that much of a killer, but it can increase the risk of diseases and other health problems like cardiac disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. World Obesity Day 2018: 8 Scientific Tips To Beat Weight Gain Naturally.

According to Ms Shruti Sharma, Bariatric Counsellor and Nutritionist, Jaypee Hospital, Noida,) here are ways you can diagnose if you are obese and contributing factors to obesity.

Diagnosis of Obesity

The diagnosis of obesity is usually based on a physical examination and a patient history. A measurement called the body mass index (BMI) is used to assess the health risk associated with being overweight or obese. A BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 for Asian adults and 18.5 to 24.9 for Americans is considered within the healthy range. However, this classification does not apply to people younger than 18 years of age, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. For people 65 years and older, the normal range is higher, beginning slightly above 18.5 and extending into the overweight range. 12 Harmless Habits That Are Making You Fat!

Causes And Contributing Factors of Obesity

  • Genetics- Genes play an important role in deciding the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. It also helps the body to convert food into energy and determines how your body burns calories during exercise.

  • Lifestyle- Sedentary lifestyle leads to a rapid increase in the weight. Inactivity results in weight gain which can lead to medical problems, such as arthritis, cardiac issues, liver problems, blood pressure etc. If one or both of the parents are obese, then one is also at the risk of being overweight.

  • Age- Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and inactive lifestyle leads to obesity. Besides, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease with age. This lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. If one don't consciously control what to eat and become more physically active with age, one is likely to gain weight.

  • Medical problems and certain medications- In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause. Some medicines can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity.

  • Pregnancy- During pregnancy, a woman's weight necessarily increases. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women.

  • Lack of sleep- Not getting enough sleep or getting too much sleep can cause changes in hormones that increase the appetite. This may also lead to a craving for foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates, which eventually contribute to weight gain.

According to the World Obesity Federation, a community of organisations dedicated to solving the problem of obesity shows that the percentage of Indian adults living with obesity is set to jump to around 5% by 2025, from 3.7% in 2014. The highest proportion of obese children and young adults were found in the U.S at nearly 13%. Egypt topped the list for adult obesity at about 35%

 

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 11, 2018 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).