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Questions

1. what is obesity?
2. how is obesity measured?
3. why does obesity need to be managed?

Answers

1. what is obesity?
Obesity can be defined as an excess accumulation of body fat sufficient to endanger health. It is a disease (not a personal weakness) that requires long-term treatment and management to achieve and sustain weight loss.

Experts agree that the primary cause of obesity is the excessive intake of calories, generally as fat. Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy output (excess calories consumed, insufficient or decreased physical activity). The correlation between energy intake, expenditure, and resulting body fat distribution varies by individual, which is what makes the reasons for this imbalance so unclear. In general, it is easiest for the body to store excess calories if they are consumed in the form of fat. It is harder for the body to convert excess carbohydrates or protein into fat.

Other factors which are thought to contribute to obesity are genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological.

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2. how is obesity measured?
The most widely accepted measurement of obesity is known as the Body Mass Index (BMI).

BMI is calculated by the weight (kg) divided by the height in meters squared.
The BMI is graded to indicate the degree of risk to health.
BMI < 18.5 (underweight)
BMI 18.5-24.9 (desirable weight)
BMI 25-29.9 (overweight)
BMI 30-40 (obese)
BMI >40 (severely obese)

Other methods of measuring obesity include:

• waist circumference — measuring the distribution of abdominal fat, which is well correlated with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
• height-weight ratio — using an appropriate measurement of frame size — small, medium, large — height/weight tables can be used to estimate ideal weight.
• measuring percent of body fat — using skinfold test and/or the body impedance method.

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3. why does obesity need to be managed?
Obesity is associated with an increase in serious health risks including:

• elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)
• some forms of cancer
• osteoarthritis
• gallstones
• respiratory complications, such as increased difficulty in breathing while asleep
• reduced quality of life

If you have a question about obesity in your personal health, check with your doctor.

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