Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition characterized by storage of excess body fat. The human body naturally
stores fat tissue under the skin and around organs and joints. Fat is critical for good health because it is a
source of energy when the body lacks the energy necessary to sustain life processes, and it provides
insulation and protection for internal organs. However, accumulation of too much fat in the body is
associated with a variety of health problems. Studies reveal that individuals who are overweight or
obese run a greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke,
arthritis, and some forms of cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States nearly 31
percent of the population is obese, up from 13 percent in 1960. From 1980 to 2000 obesity among
American adults doubled, and the number of obese children and teenagers nearly tripled. Public health
officials are concerned that obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. The health problems resulting
from obesity could reverse many of the health gains achieved in the United States in recent decades.

MEASURING OBESITY

Experience has shown that people who think they are obese or overweight are actually not. Are you
obese? How can you tell if you are overweight? The body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to
determine desirable body weights. BMI is a measure of an adult’s weight in relation to height, and it is
calculated metrically as weight divided by height squared (kg/m2). People with a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 are
considered overweight and people with a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese .

It should be noted that Body Mass Index only provides a rough estimate of desirable weight. Physicians
recognize that many other factors besides height affect weight. Weight alone may not be an indicator of
fat, as in the case of a bodybuilder who may have a high BMI because of a high percentage of muscle
tissue, which weighs more than fat. Likewise, a person with a sedentary lifestyle may be within a
desirable weight range but have excess fat tissue. In general, however, the higher the BMI, the greater
the risk for developing serious medical conditions.

COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY

Obesity increases the risk of developing disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, almost 70 percent of heart disease cases in the United States are linked
to excess body fat, and obese people are more than twice as likely to develop hypertension. The risk of
medical complications, particularly heart disease, increases when body fat is distributed around the
waist, especially in the abdomen. This type of upper body fat distribution is more common in men than
in women.
Obese women are at nearly twice the risk for developing breast cancer, and all obese people have a 42
percent higher chance of developing colorectal cancer. Almost 80 percent of patients with Type 2
diabetes mellitus, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, are obese.

Obese people also experience social and psychological problems. Stereotypes about “fat” people often
translate into discriminatory practices in education, employment, and social relationships. The
consequences of being obese in a world preoccupied with being thin are especially severe for women,
whose appearances are often judged against an ideal of exaggerated slenderness

CAUSES OF OBESITY

a. Biolagical Factors – Research has revealed the important role of biological factors in the
regulation of body weight. For instance, basal metabolic rate, the minimum energy required to
maintain normal body function, affects body weight and weight loss because some individuals
naturally use more calories to sustain basic body processes. The size and number of an
individual’s fat cells also help determine the amount of weight loss that is possible.
b. Genetics – Obesity is partially determined by a person’s genetic makeup. One groundbreaking
study published in 1986 followed children who were adopted shortly after birth. The adoptees
grew up to achieve adult weights that were more similar to their biological parents than their
adoptive parents, indicating the influence of a person’s genetic makeup in determining body
weight.

Scientists are unclear about which genes affect human obesity. More than 250 genes that may play a
role in obesity have been identified in mice and humans. Researchers believe that the cause of obesity in
humans is complicated and most likely involves the interactions of multiple genes with lifestyle factors
such as diet and physical activity.

c. Lifestyle – Changing lifestyles over the last century, including increased calorie consumption and
reduced physical activity, have played a key role in the prevalence of obesity seen today. In the
United States and other developed nations, the availability of wider food options has
contributed to a change in eating habits. Grocery stores stock their shelves with a greater
selection of products. Prepackaged foods, soft drinks, and fast-food restaurants have become
more accessible. While such food choices offer convenience, they also tend to be high in fat,
sugar, and calories.

Portion size has also increased. People eat more during a meal or snack because of larger portion sizes.
Surveys indicate that people eat at restaurants more frequently than in the 1970s, and restaurants
typically serve larger portions of food than those served at home. In the United States, experts believe
that high-calorie food choices and larger portions have become the basis of the typical diet, resulting in
excessive calorie intake and increasing the prevalence of obesity.
Both adults and children spend less time devoted to exercise as a result of longer work hours at
sedentary jobs, a decline in physical education programs in schools, and increased participation in
sedentary recreational activities such as browsing the Internet, playing video games, and watching
television. In addition, many of the labor-saving devices of the modern lifestyle, such as cars, elevators,
personal computers, and remote controls, promote a sedentary lifestyle. According to some studies,
more than 26 percent of adults reported no leisure-time physical activity. This lack of physical activity
has reduced the overall amount of energy expended in the course of a day, contributing to the
development of obesity.

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