Medically Verified By: Dr. Dheeraj Naik
Obesity is characterized by having an excess amount of body fat. The two terms, obesity and overweight, are often simultaneously used, but they are both different. A person is overweight if they weigh higher than what is considered normal for their age and height. However, muscle, bone, fat and body water all contribute toward a person’s weight; obesity develops over time.
Obesity is a worldwide health concern. It has been reported that >1.9 billion of the world population is overweight, and ~650 million are obese. In India, the prevalence of obesity is increasing at a steady rate, with >135 million of its population falling under the category of obesity.
Obesity can be divided into the following type with the help of body mass index (BMI). BMI determines weight with respect to the height of the person.
When the amount of calories consumed by a person is greater than the amount of energy they burn each day, it results in obesity. This can occur because of a number of reasons:
Calculating BMI is the most commonly used method for diagnosing obesity. The waist circumference is measured for determining abdominal obesity. A waist size if >94 cm in men and >80 cm in women is defined as abdominal obesity.
Weight loss is not a short term thing; one needs to think about the long-term approaches of maintaining a healthy weight. This can be achieved only by making nutritional changes, lifestyle and behaviour.
Nutritional Management
It is difficult to suddenly change one’s eating habits; however, making small dietary changes to everyday food habits can make considerable difference. Eating a low-calorie diet and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into one's diet can help one lose weight.
Physical Activity
Performing regular physical activity can help one maintain a healthy lifestyle along with losing weight. Adults should perform at least 150 min of physical activity per week. Small changes in daily activities such as taking the stairs rather than the elevator improve fitness. Note that 30 min of daily aerobic exercises are recommended. This includes:
Medications can help in losing weight only when they are used along with diet and exercise. They should be only used in patients who have failed to achieve weight loss with exercise and diet. Prescription drugs are approved for the following category of patients:
Over time, obesity paves the way for a number of health complications. If not controlled early, it can lead to the following medical conditions:
There is no specific approach to prevent obesity. The combination of physical exercise and healthy eating is the key to avoid weight gain.
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A new study published in the journal BMJ has revealed that eating a diet low on carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss as eating fewer carbohydrates increases the number of calories burned.
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Want to prevent obesity? You must know about the contributing factors in order to keep obesity at bay. Obesity is the leading cause of many diseases and conditions.
Obesity can increase the risk of diseases and other health problems like cardiac disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Here are some precautions you need to follow.
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A news study published in the British Medical Journal has revealed that restaurants across the world serve oversized meals which may increase your obesity risk.
A new study published in the journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice has revealed that public transportation systems not only provide numerous economic benefits for a community, but may also be instrumental in lowering obesity rates.
You can suffer from DNA damage, cancer, type 2 diabetes + other health conditions if you work frequently in night shifts. According to some studies, women working night shifts suffer more than men.
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Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Children's Hospital Los Angeles along with scientists from across the globe have pinpointed a set of molecules that wire the body weight centre of the brain.
World Obesity Day is observed on October 11. There are several lifestyle and diet factors that could cause obesity. But, sometimes, certain diseases can also be a cause of obesity. Here are some diseases that make you gain weight.
With an increasingly obese population, we are going to have a tremendous load of patients suffering from diabetes.
In this exclusive article, Dr. Gagan Saini, radiation oncologist with Max Healthcare, focusses on the increasing incidence of cancer in our country and tells us what we can do to cut down the risk of this deadly disease.
A new study published in the journal BMJ has revealed that eating a diet low on carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss as eating fewer carbohydrates increases the number of calories burned.
A new study conducted at the University of Illinois has revealed that older adults with higher levels of key nutrients like Omega-3 in the blood are more likely to have efficient brain connectivity that can boost their cognitive skills.
Obesity is a result of and can cause several health complications. This is how it is linked to various types of cancers.
Want to prevent obesity? You must know about the contributing factors in order to keep obesity at bay. Obesity is the leading cause of many diseases and conditions.
Obesity can increase the risk of diseases and other health problems like cardiac disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Here are some precautions you need to follow.
A recent study conducted by the University of Toronto has revealed that obesity is strongly linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in never-smokers.
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