Obesity is a medical
condition caused by the accumulation of excess fat in the body to such an
extent that it negatively affects health.
The common causes of
obesity are a combination of increased food intake with very little physical
activity. Though some persons may be genetically predisposed to it.
Other causes include
hormonal imbalance, mental disorder and certain medications.
On
average, obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin
counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass
People
are considered to be obese when their body mass index (BMI) - (a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight
by the square of the person's height) is more than 30 Kilograms per square
meter.
Aside the excessive
sweating on little exertion that visits obese people, they are also prone to
certain foul smelling body odours.
Also obesity increases the
likelihood of various diseases such type 2 Diabetes, Osteoarthritis, heart
disease, obstructive sleep apnea and certain types of cancers.
Health care authorities
view obesity as the most serious public health problem of the 21st Century.
Even though in times past,
obesity was courted as it was thought to be a symbol of wealth (men) and
fertility (females) but in this day and age, obesity is stigmatized and
sufferers tend to become depressed and might die from loneliness.
Obesity is a leading
preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and
children.
In 2014, 600 million
adults (13%) and 42 million children under the age of five were obese. Obesity
is more common in women than men.
A good control of diet and nutrition will help
to prevent the development of obesity; however, once it has developed, a
structural realignment of food, diet, nutrition and exercise would surely help
to fight the battle against fat accumulation.
Diet
quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such
as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber
Certain medications can
also be used to treat obesity and if those fail, surgery can be considered.
If you have a sweet tooth
for all things sweet - carbonated drinks, cakes, pasta, sweets, energy drinks
(that do not provide any energy), then you need to watch it henceforth