OBESITY



OBESITY

Obesity in absolute terms is an increase of body fatty tissue mass. In a practical setting it is difficult to measure this directly, and obesity is typically measured by BMI (body mass index) and in terms of its distribution through waist circumference or waist-hip circumference ratio measurements.[5] In addition, the presence of obesity needs to be evaluated in the context of other risk factors and comorbidities (other medical conditions that could influence risk of complications)


BMI

Body mass index or BMI is a simple and widely used method for estimating body fat mass. BMI was developed in the 19th century by the Belgian statistician and anthropometrist Adolphe Quetelet. BMI is an accurate reflection of body fat percentage in the majority of the adult population, but is less accurate in situations that affect body composition such as in body builders and pregnancy

BMI is calculated by dividing the subject's weight by the square of his/her height, typically expressed either in metric or US "Customary" units:

Metric: BMI = kg / m2

Where kg is the subject's weight in kilograms and m is the subject's height in metres.

US/Customary and imperial: BMI = lb * 703 / in2

Where lb is the subject's weight in pounds and in is the subject's height in inches


The most commonly used definitions, established by the WHO in 1997 and published in 2000, provide the following values:

  • A BMI less than 18.5 is underweight
  • A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is normal weight
  • A BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight
  • A BMI of 30.0–34.9 is class I obesity
  • A BMI of 35.0-39.9 is class II obesity
  • A BMI of > 40.0 is class III obesity or severe / morbidly obese
  • A BMI of 35.0 or higher in the presence of at least one other significant comorbidity is also classified by some bodies as morbid obesity.


Causes

Most researchers agree that a combination of excessive calorie consumption and a sedentary lifestyle are the primary causes of obesity in the majority of the population. Other less well established or minor influences include genetic causes, medical and psychiatric illnesses, and microbiological causes.

A 2006 review identifies ten other possibly under investigated causes for recently increasing rates of obesity:

(1) Insufficient sleep

(2) Endocrine disruptors - food substances that interfere with lipid metabolism,

(3) decreased variability in ambient temperature,

(4) decreased rates of smoking, which suppresses appetite,

(5) increased use of medication that leads to weight gain,

(6) Increased distribution of ethnic and age groups that tend to be heavier,

(7) Pregnancy at a later age,

(8) Intrauterine and intergenerational effects,

(9) Positive natural selection of people with a higher BMI,

(10) Assortative mating, heavier people tending to form relationships with each other.


Dietary

Despite the widespread availability of nutritional information in schools, doctors' offices, on the internet and on product packaging, it is evident that overeating remains a substantial problem. In the period of 1971-2000, obesity rates in the United States increased from 14.5% to 30.9% of the population. During the same time, an increase occurred in the average amount of calories consumed. For women, the average increase was 335 calories per day (1542 calories in 1971 and 1877 calories in 2004); while for men the average increase was 168 calories per day (2450 calories in 1971 and 2618 calories in 2004). Most of these extra calories came from an increase in carbohydrate consumption rather than an increase in fat consumption. Dietary trends have also change with reliance on energy-dense fast-food meals tripling between 1977 and 1995, and calorie intake from fast food quadrupling over the same period.


Sedentary lifestyle

An increasingly sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in obesity. There has been a trend toward decreased physical activity due in part to increasingly mechanized forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization. Studies in children and adults have found an association between the number of hours of television watched and the prevalence of obesity. Driving one's children to school also decreases the amount of exercise that these children get and has led to calls for reduced car use around schools. An association between leisure time activity and obesity has been found. For example in Canada, 27.0% of sedentary men are obese as opposed to 19.6% of active men.


Genetics

Like many other medical conditions, obesity is the result of interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Polymorphisms in various genes controlling appetite, metabolism, and adipokine release may predispose to obesity when sufficient calories are present. Obesity is a major feature in a number of rare genetic conditions: Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, MOMO syndrome, leptin receptor mutations, and melanocortin receptor mutations. In a people with early-onset severe obesity (defined by an onset before ten years of age and body mass index over three standard deviations above normal), 7% harbour a single locus mutation. Apart from the above syndromes, an association has been found between an FTO gene polymorphism and weight. The 16% of adults in the study who were homozygous for this allele weighed about 3 kilograms more then those who had not inherited this trait and subsequently had a 1.6 fold greater rate of obesity. A study of 5092 identical twin found that childhood obesity has a strong (77%) inherited component, suggesting that many genetic influences underpinning the development of obesity are yet to be discovered.

On a population level, the thrifty gene hypothesis postulates that certain ethnic groups may be more prone to obesity when exposed to an equivalent environment. Their ability to take advantage of rare periods of abundance by storing energy as fat would be advantageous during times of varying food availability. Individuals with greater adipose reserves would be more likely survive famine. This tendency to store fat however would be maladaptive in societies with stable food supplies.


Medical illness

Certain physical and mental illnesses and the pharmaceutical substances used to treat them can increase one's risk of obesity. Medical illnesses that increase obesity risk include several rare genetic syndromes (listed above) as well as some congenital or acquired conditions: (1) hypothyroidism, (2) Cushing's syndrome, (3) growth hormone deficiency, and (4) eating disorders such bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating.

Certain medications may cause weight gain and or negative changes in body composition, such as steroids, atypical antipsychotics, some fertility medication, insulin and sulfonylureas.


Microbiological

The role of bacteria colonizing the digestive tract in the development of obesity has recently become the subject of investigation. Bacteria participate in digestion (especially of fatty acids and polysaccharides), and alterations in the proportion of particular strains of bacteria may explain why certain people are more prone to weight gain than others. Human digestive tract bacteria are generally either member of the phyla of bacteroidetes or of firmicutes. In obese people, there is a relative abundance of firmicutes (which cause relatively high energy absorption), which is restored by weight loss. From these results it cannot be concluded whether this imbalance is the cause or effect of obesity.


Social determinants

The correlation between social class and BMI is inconsistent. Comparing net worth with BMI found obese Americanians approximately half as wealthy as thin ones. When income differentials were factored out, the inequity persisted. A tendency to rely on fast food is seen as one of the reasons why this result occurred. Another study found women who married into a higher social class are thinner than women who married into a lower social class. The 2004 Canadian Health Survey however found the exact opposite. It found that men from lower middle income households were less likely to be obese than were those in the highest income households and women from middle income households had the highest rates of obesity.


Treatment

Homoeopathic system of medicine have very effective medicines for obesity, regular intake of medicine is very much helpful to control and reduce the weight with out produce any side effect


For homoeopathic treatment

Please click the following link


http://treatmentt.blogspot.com/2009/12/obesity-treatment.html





Wednesday, July 13, 2011

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS FOR TEENAGE GIRLS




Overweight and obese teens have increased chances for numerous medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and menstrual abnormalities. A nutritious food plan combined with simple lifestyle changes can help ensure your long-term weight loss success.

Weight Loss Plan For Teen Girls:

Food and Beverage Choices:
Be choosy about the foods and beverages on your weight loss plan. A healthy plan is centered on the basic food groups. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and lean meats or beans should all be represented. Look for a rich variety of foods that you enjoy. Examine recommendations for unsweetened beverages and water consumption as well. An assortment of wholesome beverage and food options will keep the plan flexible, practical and enjoyable.

Ditch Junk Foods:
Be it, weight loss programs for men or women, one cannot under estimate the importance of eating healthy food. Teenage girls need to understand that junk foods not only promote weight gain but also lack nutrition. Junk foods are loaded with unhealthy fats and so their consumption makes a person obese, which eventually leads to increase in weight.
Weight loss programs for teenage girls will never work unless fast foods are excluded from the diet. Hamburgers, pizzas, hot dogs, processed meat and potato chips might have a lip smacking taste but they only add unhealthy fats to the body. Eating of fried foods such as chicken nuggets, as well as sugary foods such as pastries has to be avoided, if one is serious about losing weight.

Kick The Junk:
The easiest way to lose weight is to remove most of the junk from what we consume in a day. That includes the fries (yes!), the pizzas, the chocolates, the chips, the colas, the golgappas, the list is endless. Don’t we all know how much damage these things did to us? It was all this that caused those pimples on your face and gave you sleepless nights. It is not advisable to say never have all these; just reduce the portion and frequency when it comes to eating junk food.

Prefer Healthy Foods:
A low calorie diet is also required to lose weight in a healthy way. However, that doesn’t indicate one has to starve to reduce body fat. A high fiber diet works best in reducing weight. Eating fiber rich foods gives a feeling of fullness that lasts longer, which can help to curb unhealthy habits such as overeating. Also, fiber foods are not at all easy to digest. A slowed digestion rate is known to reduce hunger pangs.

This in turn decreases overall calorie intake, thereby promoting weight loss. Vegetables like lentils, peas, salads and dry beans as well as fruits like oranges and grapes are high in fiber and therefore an integral part of weight loss diet. On the whole, one should eat plenty of vegetables and fruits to boost fiber intake. Brown rice, wheat breads and oats are also useful addition to a fiber rich diet.

Calorie Intake:
While calorie requirements vary with size, activity level and gender, the average teen girl burns about 1,800 calories per day, according to the American Heart Association. You need to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight. A realistic weight loss plan limits calorie intake through guidelines about portion size and the number of servings allowed per day.

Exercise:
One of the most important aspects of healthy weight loss programs for teenage girls is exercise. In order to burn excess fat that is causing weight gain, it is essential to start an exercise routine. Exercising for 40-45 minutes every day can go a long way in managing healthy weight. So, which are the physical activities or weight loss exercises for women that can be included to melt those extra pounds? Fast walking, running, aerobic exercises, cycling and swimming are some of the physical activities that can help to get that perfect shape.

Advice:
Consult your health care provider before you start your weight loss plan, especially if you have a health concern, such as diabetes or an eating disorder. Your health care professional should be able to provide you with additional information and possible resources. Check in periodically after you begin your weight loss program as well. Report health concerns, challenges or lack of progress, as these may be warning signs of an underlying condition.



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