Obesity and Overweight Overview: One of today’s main health topics largely discussed are obesity and overweight. The reasons are not simply aesthetical, but that these conditions and even preconditions are literary life-threatening. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as having “excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health”. There are different methods used to screen the weight status, including the BMI (Body mass index). It’s easily calculated as weight in kilograms is divided by the square of height in meters. In this article, we will do our best to inform you about each important factor on this topic.
What are the Normal Ranges of BMI? (Obesity and Overweight Overview)
Although BMI is one of the most widely used screening tools for estimating excess body fat, it refers to height and weight only, and not the amount of, location of, or types of body fat. It does not distinguish between fat mass and fat-free mass (lean body mass) which includes muscle and the body’s tissues and organs, which contribute to total body weight. Also, it’s known that different family backgrounds change the perspective of the screening, for example, Asians, Chinese, Middle Eastern, African, or African-Caribbean. For them, the score ranges should be reduced to give a more precise evaluation of the weight status. The index is not a reliable instrument for sportsmen. Therefore, BMI is just a simple measurement to start with and to orientate us on how to proceed.
Below you will find the normal ranges of BMI for most healthy adults:
- below 18.5 – you’re in the underweight range
- 18.5 to 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range
- 25 to 29.9 – you’re in the overweight range
- 30 to 39.9 – you’re in the obese range
- 40 or above – you’re in the severely obese range
How is BMI Calculated for Children? (Obesity and Overweight Overview)
For children, the calculation is made slightly different and it depends on their sex and age percentiles growth charts. It’s accepted that overweight is defined as a BMI from the 85th percentile to the 95th. A child’s obesity is defined as a BMI at the 95th percentile or higher.
Another simple and noninvasive method is the waist measurement. If the waist circumference is more than 95 cm for males and more than 80 cm for females (not pregnant), the healthy status needs additional attention.
Other possible tests are blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, the high levels of which are important indicators for other conditions connected with obesity.
The Current State of Overweight “Epidemic”
Presently in the world, there are five leading causes of death – heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, and unintentional injuries. Unfortunately, obesity is a major risk factor for the first four of them. Obesity is also associated with other health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, gallstones and gallbladder disease, infertility, respiratory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis, and certain types of cancer. No less real are the social and emotional effects of obesity which may include discrimination, lower quality of life, susceptibility to depression and anxiety disorders.
Obesity and its Economic Impact
Obesity also has a huge economic impact – there are direct costs for preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services, but indirect also as sickness, deaths, and the lost productivity for society.
It’s a complex issue with many causes. Overweight is caused when extra calories, particularly those from foods high in fat and sugar, are stored in the body as fat. The trend is to become an increasingly common problem because the environment we live in makes it difficult for many people to eat healthily and do enough physical activity. The daily work and home stress, the informational overload, and different types of social pressure make mental distress difficult to cope with. Some medicines also can increase the food intake or slow the metabolism, for example.
What can you do? (Obesity and Overweight Overview)
The good news is that overweight and obesity are largely preventable. It’s necessary to achieve an energy balance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories used on the other hand.
To reach this goal, people can limit energy intake from total fats and plain carbohydrates, use mainly unsaturated fats; increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains, and nuts, and limit processed food as a whole. On the other hand, to increase calories used, people can boost their levels of physical activity – to at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. Sounds simple, but unfortunately for each individual, the achievement level varies in a huge range. The evidence that’s not so easy task is the huge food supplement and medicine industry which promotes help and even success, but not clear on what price.
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