An obese individual is one who has extra body fat.
How to determine whether you are obese
The most widely used method for figuring out your healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI).
Body mass index (BMI)
Your BMI tells you if your weight is appropriate for your height. To get your BMI, use the BMI healthy weight calculator.
In most cases, persons have a BMI of:
- If your weight is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
- You are between the 18.5 and 24.9 healthy weight range.
the overweight range of 25 to 29.9. - If you’re between 30 and 39.9, you’re obese.
- If you are 40 or older, you are considered seriously obese.
- if your weight is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
- You are between the 18.5 and 24.9 healthy weight range.
- the overweight range of 25 to 29.9.
- If you are between 30 and 39.9, you’re obese.
- If you are 40 or older you are considered seriously obese.
You must use a lower BMI score to determine overweight and obesity if you are from an Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family:
- You’re overweight if your weight is between 23 and 27.4.
- If your score is 27.5 or more you are considered obese.
The BMI score has limitations because it establishes whether an individual is overweight but not obese. For example, people with substantial muscle mass, like athletes, can have a high BMI without being appreciably fat.
For most people, however, BMI provides a useful indication of a healthy weight.
Waist to height ratio
An additional metric for assessing extra fat in persons with a BMI < 35 is the waist-to-height ratio.
To determine your waist-to-height ratio:
- Measure the distance in the midway between your hip bone and lowest rib. This ought to be about level with your navel.
- Breathe normally and avoid holding your stomach in as you wrap the tape measure around this midway point.
- Divide your measurement expressed in the same units(for instance centimeters or inches) by your height.
For instance if your height is 160 cm and your waist is 80 cm you would compute your result as follows : 80 / 160 = 0.5 is the result.
If the ratio of your waist to height is 0.5 or greater, you may be more susceptible to health issues.
Risks of living with obesity
Being obese raises the chance of numerous other health issues, making it a severe health concern.
Among them are :
heart disease
type 2 diabetes
Certain cancers, such colon and breast cancer, can cause strokes
Being overweight or obese can also have a negative impact on your quality of life, increase your risk of mental health issues like depression, and lower your self-esteem.
Causes of obesity
A complex problem with numerous causes is obesity. The body stores excess calories as fat especially from diets high in fat and sugar which leads to obesity and overweight.
Because of the conditions in which we live, it is becoming more and more difficult for many individuals to eat healthily and get enough exercise, which contributes to the rising rate of obesity.
For certain people genetics may also be the reason of their obesity. Genetics can have an impact on how your body stores fat and uses food.
Occurring underlying medical issues can also lead to weight gain on occasion. Hypothyroidism, for example, is an underactive thyroid gland; but, if properly treated with medication, these conditions typically do not result in weight gain.
Certain medications, such as steroids and some treatments for high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health issues, might potentially increase a person’s risk of gaining weight.
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Treating obesity
Eating a nutritious, low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise are the greatest ways to cure obesity.
Here’s how to do it:
follow a doctor’s or a weight loss management specialist’s (such a dietitian’s) advice and consume a balanced, calorie-controlled diet.
Engage in physical sports like tennis, swimming, jogging, or fast walking for 150–300 minutes (2.5–5 hours) every week.
Enrolling in a local weight management program that offers online assistance or group sessions can prove advantageous for you.You can learn more about these from your GP.
A qualified healthcare professional advice and guidance may also be beneficial to you in order to change your eating habits and gain a better understanding of your connection with food.
If you are obese and changing your diet and behavior won’t help you lose weight your doctor may suggest orlistat.
When used as directed, this medication lessens the quantity of fat your body absorbs during digestion. Your doctor will be able to determine if orlistat is right for you.
Liraglutide or semaglutide are two more medications that a doctor could recommend.They work by making you feel fuller and less hungry
A specialist could suggest weight loss surgery for certain individuals who suffer from obesity.
A qualified healthcare professional advice and guidance may also be beneficial to you in order to change your eating habits and gain a better understanding of your connection with food.
Other obesity-related problems
Obesity can lead to a host of other issues, such as challenges with day-to-day functioning and severe medical disorders.
Daily issues associated with obesity comprise:
- breathlessness
- increased sweating
- snoring
- difficulty doing physical activity
- often feeling very tired
- joint and back pain
- low confidence and self-esteem
- feeling isolated
Living with obesity can cause psychological issues that can damage your relationships with friends and family and even put you at risk for depression.
Serious health conditions
- Being obese can also raise your chance of getting a number of potentially dangerous medical disorders, such as :
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, a condition in which fat buildup narrows your arteries, can cause heart attacks and coronary heart disease.
- asthma
- metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity
- various cancer types, such as womb, breast, and colon cancer
- various cancer types, such as womb, breast, and colon cancer
- gallstones
- reduced fertility
- osteoarthritis, a disorder that causes stiffness and pain in your joints
- sleep aponea, which results in breathing disruptions while you sleep, can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and raise your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
- liver disease and kidney disease
- pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia, when a woman experiences a potentially dangerous rise in blood pressure during pregnancy
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), where stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and into the gullet
Depending on how severe it is, obesity shortens life expectancy by an average of three to ten years.
Outlook
It can be challenging to manage a complex issue like obesity. It requires commitment and patience to reduce weight.
The medical professionals who are involved in your treatment can offer support and guidance on managing your weight, developing healthy lifestyle choices and maintaining your weight loss.
A weight management program completed, consistent weight monitoring, reasonable goal setting and sharing weight loss strategies with friends and family can all be beneficial.
It is crucial to keep in mind that even seemingly minor weight loss such as three percent or more of your starting body weight can have a big impact on your lifetime risk of obesity related problems like diabetes and heart disease.
As a seasoned content writer specialized in the fitness and health niche, Arun Bhagat has always wanted to promote wellness. After gaining proper certification as a gym trainer with in-depth knowledge of virtually all the information related to it, he exercised his flair for writing interesting, informative content to advise readers on their healthier lifestyle. His topics range from workout routines, nutrition, and mental health to strategies on how to be more fit in general. His writing is informative but inspiring for people to achieve their wellness goals as well. Arun is committed to equipping those he reaches with the insights and knowledge gained through fitness.