Understanding The Importance Of World Obesity Day

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a complex chronic disease characterized by an excessive amount of body fat and it may lead to several health complications. It is more than just about your appearance because it is a medical problem. Obesity risk factors can be inherited, and physiological and environmental factors may be responsible for it, combined with an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity. Some other causes of obesity may include, not getting enough sleep, post pregnancy, PCOS– which is a condition that causes an imbalance in female reproductive hormones, hypothyroidism, some medications, stress and osteoarthritis.   

Trying to lose weight may not always be easy for everyone. However, even if you lose a modest amount of body weight it can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. It is important to make a few diet and lifestyle changes to reduce body weight, medications may be prescribed by a healthcare professional and other weight-loss surgical procedures can also help you achieve a healthy weight.

How to Tell if You are Obese?

BMI is used to help you understand whether a person is obese, overweight or normal. It is a numerical value of your weight to your height. 

To understand the range of BMI, the following can be used as a guide:

• BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m ² = underweight. 
• BMI between 18.5 and 25 kg/m ² = normal weight. 
• BMI value between 25 kg/m ² and 29.9 kg/m ² = overweight. 
• And lastly, a BMI of 30 kg/m ² or higher = obese.

How to Measure Your BMI

Using the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Because height is commonly measured in centimeters, divide height in centimeters by 100 to obtain height in meters.

Formula to calculate BMI:

• Weight (kg) / [height (m)]2
• Example: Weight = 68 kg, Height = 165 cm (1.65 m)
• BMI Calculation- 68 ÷ (1.65)2 = 24.98

Before approaching any kind of treatment, doctors measure a person’s waist circumference. Several methods to measure body fat include screening tests, blood tests, liver function tests, thyroid tests, diabetes tests and ECG or EKG.

Health Problems Related to Obesity

Obesity means excess body fat and leads to muscles putting strain on your bones and internal organs. It increases inflammation which is a risk factor for cancer. Here are a few health complications that may be caused due to obesity and some can even be life-threatening if not treated:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Risk of heart diseases
• High blood pressure
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Breast, colon and endometrial cancers
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnea
• Arthritis
• Infertility

Can you Prevent Obesity?

To reduce the risk of obesity one must understand and address the root cause of it. It has become extremely important that each and everyone one of us makes healthier food choices and indulge in activities that will help turn the tide on obesity. Some tips to reduce the chances of obesity:

• Make exercise a part of your daily life. You may go for walks, run, swim and biking too.
• Choose to eat nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains in your daily diet.
• Avoid eating junk food, packaged food and sugary drinks.
• Adults and children must get adequate sleep.
• Focus on reducing stress in your daily life.
• Consult a doctor and get a health checkup if you notice unexplained weight gain

Facts About Obesity

• More than 1 billion people around the world are living with obesity and it is not easy to live a normal life with obesity. Weight stigma is prevalent around the world and usually, an obese individual is held responsible for his or her condition.  
• Obesity can damage mental health as much as hamper the physical well-being of a person.  
• Childhood obesity has nearly doubled every decade and is often carried through to adulthood, so prevention and treatment at an early age are vital.
• Eating less is not a solution for obesity, similarly, exercise alone is not an effective obesity treatment. You must seek necessary medical care.  
• Obesity is a rising health concern and it is being noticed that obesity is a fast-growing health issue in lower and middle-income countries, among poorer and more vulnerable communities.
• People living with obesity are twice as likely to be hospitalized if tested positive for Covid-19.

World Obesity Day 2024: Let’s Talk About Obesity And…

World Obesity Day, observed on 4 March, created by World Obesity Day (WOD) reinforces the need to talk about obesity as a serious disease affecting a large part of the world population. It may happen to anyone and the only way we can make progress is by working together. This year the theme for this day has been set keeping in mind the fact that it’s time to talk about the dangers associated with obesity and its effects on different aspects of health. Education and awareness are needed, to end the stigma around obesity and show care. So let’s join hands for a healthier future.

References:

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight#:~:text=For%20adults%2C%20WHO%20defines%20overweight,than%20or%20equal%20to%2030.
2. https://www.who.int/news/item/01-03-2024-one-in-eight-people-are-now-living-with-obesity
3. https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(23)02750-2.pdf
4. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(23)00068-9/fulltext

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