Author: Ben Sha December 18, 2015

What is obesity? This is a medical condition that is normally associated with accumulation of excess body fat in a way that has a negative effect on health. It can result in increased health problems and reduced life expectancy.

Various Health Problems

It can result in various health problems which include the following.

• Heart disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Cancer

Causes Of This Condition

• Excessive intake of food energy
• May also be caused by genes.
• Psychiatric illness
• Endocrine disorders
• Medications

Treatment Of This Condition

• The main treatment methods for this condition are exercising and dieting.
• One has to reduce the consumption of energy-dense foods especially those high in sugars and fats. Increased intake of dietary fiber is also advised.
• Various medications can also be taken to decrease fat absorption and reduce appetite.
• Gastric balloons are also very effective and help in instances where surgery has been performed to reduce the volume of the stomach . It also assists in weight loss.
• The gastric balloons also help in reducing the ability to absorb various nutrients from food.

More Information About The Condition

• This condition is a major cause of death worldwide. It is however preventable if detected at an early stage.
• It was once seen as a symbol of fertility and wealth in various parts of the world.
• The American Medical Association classified this condition as a disease.

Classification

• It is a condition which excess body fats have accumulated to an extent that results in adverse effects.
• It is normally defined using the body mass index normally written as the (BMI ).
• It can also be evaluated in terms of fat distribution . BMI is related to the total body fat and the percentage body fat.
• When it comes to adolescents and children, it is defined In relation to a historical normal group.
• To get the BMI, all you have to do is take that subject’s weight and divide by the square of their height.
• BMI is normally expressed in terms of kilograms per square metre .
• 30 to 35 kg/m2 is class I , 35 to 40 kg/m2 is class II while 40 kg/m2 is class III .

Effects On Health

• At BMI of 20 to 25 kg/m2, the mortality rate is very low.
• Generally, this condition reduces the life expectancy by six or seven years.
• This health condition also increases the risk of many mental and physical conditions. Medical disorders associated with the condition are high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type 2 , high triglyceride levels and high blood cholesterol.
• It is also known to cause a condition which is called survival paradox. A study showed that as people lose weight, they become more and more ill.

Factors Resulting In This Condition

• Insufficient sleep is believed to be a major cause of this condition.
• Endocrine disruptors like environmental pollutants are known to interfere with metabolism of lipids.
• Decreased rate of smoking since smoking is known to supress appetite.
• Increased use of medications that results in weight gain.
• Pregnancy at an early age is also a factor that causes this condition.

Some health tips like exercising and reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods can greatly prevent this condition.