Definition, causes, and consequences of obesity
What is Obesity?
Obesity is considered a chronic disease in which the human body has an excessive amount of body fat. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, this disease is closely related to heart disease, motor problems, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other chronic diseases.
Many think of obesity as an epidemic that started in the 80s and for which cases keep increasing. Quoting Dr. George Bray, obesity researcher: “Obesity isn’t a disease of willpower – it’s a biological problem. Genes load the gun, and the environment pulls the trigger”.
Overall, obesity occurs when your body doesn’t burn enough calories during the day, which means that you’re consuming more calories than those that your body can burn. This is due to a number of factors.
Causes of obesity
Obesity can be caused by one or more of the following reasons:
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Genetic inheritance:
Recent research has concluded that there is a hereditary component in obesity. This means that people with a family history of obesity must take additional precautions to prevent it.
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Sex:
Men burn more calories while resting than women. Women can also experience an increase in their weight after menopause because of a reduction in their fat burning capacity.
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Environment and eating habits:
In the United States, fast food plays an essential role in citizens’ daily diet. This type of food is rich in fats, carbohydrates, and cholesterol.
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Sedentarism:
People’s daily routines now include a lot of passive activities such as working on a computer, driving a car, watching tv, reading, others. None of these help the body burn extra calories.
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Diseases:
Obesity is in itself a disease. However, obesity can also be a consequence of hormonal problems or depression.
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Eating disorder:
About 10% to 20% of patients undergoing obesity treatment suffer from binge eating. Obesity is not only physical but a disease of the mind.
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Medicines:
Weight gain can be a side effect of some remedies such as antidepressants or corticosteroids.
Consequences of obesity
Obesity is a disease that affects the wellbeing of a person with many unpleasant consequences such as:
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
- High levels of triglycerides
- Diabetes (type 2)
- Breathing problems
- Strokes
- Heart diseases
- Sleep apnea
- Body pain
- Physical function difficulties
- Some types of cancer
- Death
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
In general, obesity decreases a person’s quality of life.
What is the obese weight?
The Body Max Index (BMI) is a measure that determines the relationship between a person’s weight and height. A high BMI can be an indicator of overweight or obesity.
| Categories | Body Max Index |
| Underweight | Below 18,5 |
| Normal weight | 18,5 – 24,9 |
| Overweight | 25 – 29.9 |
| Obesity | Over 30 |
Child obesity
The United States is the country with the highest rate of child obesity worldwide, which is now 12,7%. All efforts so far to decrease these figures have been largely unsuccessful.
Study to reduce child obesity
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine shared a study by New Haven. The study collected data from 12 schools, with the participation of 600 students, for five years.
During the study, schools implemented different nutritional childhood policies and programs, and the results were promising. Children developed healthier habits in comparison with children in other schools without nutritional plans and policies.
Consequences of child obesity
Physical health consequences of child obesity:
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Breathing difficulty
- Diabetes type 2
- Skin problems like child dermatitis
Other consequences of child obesity:
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of confidence
- Depression
- Social isolation
- Eating disorders like bulimia, anorexic, binge eating
Importance of healthy habits in childhood
It is essential to create healthy habits during childhood, such as healthy eating and doing physical activities at home and school. Working on creating healthy habits builds a road to a healthy life in children.
Kids with obesity or overweight are very likely to suffer the same in their adult life, and the consequences could be more severe.
What can you do if your child suffers from obesity or overweight?
The first step is to consult with a doctor and check out your child’s overall health. Then, encourage your child to regularly do physical activity and follow a healthy balanced diet that you consult with a child nutritionist or the child’s doctor to provide all the vitamins and nutrients that the body needs in healthy foods.
A healthy environment at home is essential to set an example for your child. Prevention is the key to make a significant difference in the quality of life for children.
The economic factor in obesity and the role of the community
The economic factor in obesity:
Obesity is a health problem, but it’s also an economic matter. Obesity costs the US healthcare system about $147 billion a year in bills. Also, people suffering from this disease spend $1,429 more than people with regular weight monthly.
Role of the community
Quoting Ted Kyle, founder of ConscienHealth and speaker of Obesity Society: “It’s not about weight and appearance. It’s about your health.” Also, people need to understand that there’s no magic or quick solution to obesity. It’s a long road to creating healthy eating and exercise habits.
In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared obesity the first cause of death in the USA. Even today, the number of cases don’t seem to decrease despite all the policies issued by the US healthcare system. Communities play an essential role in the fight against obesity, according to Dr. Eduardo Sánchez, chief medical officer of American Heart Association (2017). He recommends adopting measures such as:
- Healthier food and drinks in vending machines in schools and businesses
- Improving accessibility to healthy foods by promoting farmers’ markets
- Designing neighborhoods to be more walkable and bike-friendly
- Promoting physical activity for kids both in and outside school
American health in danger
This health problem has gotten worse with the COVID-19 pandemic. The high number of deaths in the United States, compared to other countries, could be related to the high levels of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes type 2. The latter two are also consequences in many obesity cases.
How can we prevent high numbers of obesity cases in the US?
Preventing obesity is possible with better and healthier habits. However, professional help is often required as a way to ensure you’ll get the physical and health results you need.
Your health is our number one priority, so we offer different programs adapted to your specific needs, life stage, and lifestyle. Our weight loss programs are personalized to your health needs from the Bardisa team in a three-stage journey.
First, an overall health evaluation. Our medical team analyzes your eating habits and delivers you a personalized plan that may include appetite suppressants and weight loss supplements to decrease your caloric intake.
Then comes the development of a special exercise regime to increase your energy levels. At this stage, you’ll also get additional nutraceuticals and supplements to reinforce the program. And last but not least, we review your goals and provide recommendations of lipotropic B12 injections or HCG injections to boost your metabolism and increase lean muscle mass.
Lose weight and hack your body: HCG bioanalysis program
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HCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a naturally-occurring hormone found in pregnant women. HCG works to release deep fat stores and helps to convert those fat stores into energy, often increasing the amount of weight patients lose through the program.
With this treatment, you will convert the fat stored into energy and create habits to avoid re-gaining weight after the HCG treatment.
Our patients are closely monitored during the whole program and receive support from our finest team of specialists.
We want you to accomplish your weight goals while you lead a healthy lifestyle! Schedule an appointment and get your health improved!
Live Young Longer.
Most of the data and information presented in this article was taken from worldHealth.net.
