Obesity is when an individual is carrying excessive body weight. Obesity is often considered a cosmetic inconvenience but it isn’t simply that. Obesity is a serious health issue that can inhibit individuals’ lives, in addition, to causing numerous health problems such as chronic diseases, ailments and even cancers. Obesity is a medical condition that impedes individuals’ ability to live a healthy and well-rounded life.
Who is prone to obesity?
Obesity is caused by various factors, including, consuming too many calories, eating the wrong foods, not exercising enough, not sleeping enough and genetics. Obesity can be caused by a combination of these factors and causes individuals to gain excess weight.
Am I obese?
To determine whether an individual is obese, doctors calculate individuals’ BMI (body mass index). A person’s BMI depends on age, sex and height. These parameters are taken into consideration to determine what is a healthy fat to body weight ratio within the body.
There is a difference between being overweight and obese. Overweight is when an individual is above the average weight for their demographic (depending on their age, sex and height). An individual with a BMI reading between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. An individual who is obese has a BMI higher than 30. Obese individuals have higher levels of body fat than those who are overweight.
To find out your body mass index, consult the National Heart, Lund and Blood Institute’s BMI Calculator.
BMI calculations are a good guideline to determine whether an individual is obese but do have limitations. The calculations fail to take into account muscular builds of athletes and muscle loss in older individuals.
How to treat obesity
Obesity can be cured by losing excess weight, which is often easier said than done. But with the help of bariatric surgery and trained weight-loss professionals, your weight loss journey doesn’t have to be difficult.
Weight-loss surgery can help curb your urges to overindulge and set you on the right track to a happier and healthier you. After bariatric surgery, patients also undergo numerous other lifestyle changes including learning how to eat healthy, avoiding food binges, exercising regularly, monitoring their weight regularly, and learn how to be consistent.