What is obesity

What is obesity?

The term obesity describes a person who is severely overweight and has a lot of body fat.

It is a common problem in the UK, estimated to affect around 1 in 4 adults and around 1 in 5 children aged 10 to 11.

How to tell if you are obese

The most widely used way to check if you are at a healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI).

BMI is a measure of whether you are a healthy weight for your height. You can use the NHS Healthy Weight BMI Calculator to work out your score.

For most adults, a BMI of:

18.5 to 24.9 means you are at a healthy weight

25 to 29.9 means you are overweight

30 to 39.9 means you are obese

40 or more means you are severely overweight

BMI is not used to diagnose obesity because people who are very muscular without a lot of fat can have a high BMI.

But for most people, BMI is a useful indication of whether they are at a healthy weight.

A better measure of excess fat is waist circumference, which can be used as an additional measure in people who are overweight (with a BMI of 25 to 29.9) or moderately obese (with a BMI of 30 to 34.9).

In general, men with a waist measurement of 94 cm or more and women with a waist measurement of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.

Risks of obesity

Taking action to combat obesity is very important, as it can lead not only to obvious physical changes, but also to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.

These include:

Type 2 diabetes

Coronary heart disease

Some cancers, such as breast cancer and colon cancer

Stroke

Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to mental health issues like depression and low self-esteem.

Causes of obesity

Obesity is generally caused by consuming more calories, particularly in foods high in fat and sugar, than you burn off through physical activity. The excess energy is stored by the body as fat.

Obesity is an increasingly common problem because for many people modern life means eating excessive amounts of cheap, high-calorie foods and spending a lot of time sitting at a desk, on the sofa or in the car.

Find out why sitting too much is bad for your health

There are also some underlying health conditions that can occasionally contribute to weight gain, such as: B. an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), although these types of conditions do not usually cause weight problems when effectively controlled with medication.

Causes

Obesity is usually caused by overeating and not exercising enough.

When you consume large amounts of energy, especially fat and sugar, but don't burn the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the excess energy is stored by the body as fat.

Calories

The energy value of food is measured in units called calories. The average physically active man needs about 2,500 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, and the average physically active woman needs about 2,000 calories a day.

This amount of calories may sound high, but it's easily achievable by eating certain types of foods. For example, if you eat a large takeout hamburger, fries, and a milkshake, you can total 1,500 calories — and that's just 1 meal. Check out our guide to understanding calories for more information.

Another problem is that many people are not physically active, so many of the calories they eat end up being stored as fat in their bodies.

Poor diet

Obesity doesn't happen overnight. It develops gradually over time as a result of poor diet and lifestyle, such as:

Eat large amounts of processed or fast food — it's high in fat and sugar

Drinking too much alcohol – Alcohol contains a lot of calories and people who drink heavily are often overweight

Eating out a lot - You may be tempted to also have an appetizer or dessert at a restaurant and the food may be higher in fat and sugar

Eat larger portions than you need - You may be encouraged to overeat if your friends or relatives also eat large portions

Drink too many sugary drinks — including sodas and fruit juices

Comfort Eating – If you have low self-esteem or are feeling depressed, you can eat to make yourself feel better

Unhealthy eating habits tend to run in families. You can learn bad eating habits from your parents when you are young and continue them into adulthood.

Read how to eat less saturated fat and how sugar in our diet affects our health.

Lack of physical activity

Sedentary lifestyle is another important factor linked to obesity. Many people have jobs that require them to sit at a desk for most of the day. They also rely on their car instead of walking or cycling.

For relaxation, many people tend to watch television, surf the Internet, or play computer games and rarely exercise regularly.

If you're not active enough, you're not using the energy you get from food, and the extra energy you expend is stored in the body as fat.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as bicycling or brisk walking, each week. This does not have to be done in a single session, but can be broken up into smaller periods of time. For example, you could exercise 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

If you are obese and trying to lose weight, you may need to exercise more.

Genetics

Some people claim that there is no point in losing weight because "it runs in my family" or "it's in my genes".

In many cases, obesity is more related to environmental factors, such as B. Bad eating habits learned in childhood.

Medical reasons

In some cases, underlying medical conditions can contribute to weight gain. These include:

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) - when your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones

Cushing's Syndrome – a rare condition that causes overproduction of steroid hormones

However, if such conditions are properly diagnosed and treated, they should pose less of a barrier to weight loss.

Certain medicines, including some corticosteroids, medicines for epilepsy and diabetes, and some medicines used to treat mental illness—including antidepressants and medicines for schizophrenia—can contribute to weight gain.

Weight gain can sometimes be a side effect of smoking cessation.

If you are obese, speak to your GP for advice on how to lose weight safely.

Your GP can advise you on safe weight loss through a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity.

They can also inform you about other useful services, such as:

Local weight loss groups - these may be provided by your local authority, the NHS or commercial services which you may have to pay for

Prescription Exercise – where you are referred to a local active health team for a series of sessions under the supervision of a qualified trainer

If you have underlying problems related to obesity, such as Your GP may recommend further testing or specific treatment for conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea. In some cases, they can refer you to a specialist.

Read more about how your GP can help you lose weight.

Diet

There is no one-size-fits-all rule, but to lose weight at a safe and sustainable rate of 0.5-1 kg per week, most people are recommended to reduce their energy intake by 600 calories per day.

For most men, this means consuming no more than 1,900 calories per day and for most women, no more than 1,400 calories per day.

The best way to do this is to swap out unhealthy and high-energy foods — like fast food, processed foods, and sugary drinks (including alcohol) — for healthier alternatives.

A healthy diet should consist of:

A lot of fruits and vegetables

Plenty of potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods (whole grains are best)

Some milk and dairy products

Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy protein sources

Only small amounts of high-fat and high-sugar foods and drinks

Try to avoid foods high in salt as they can raise your blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people who are already overweight. Read some tips for a low-salt diet.

You must also check the calorie information for each type of food and drink you consume to ensure you are not exceeding your daily limit.

Some restaurants and fast food outlets list calories per serving, although it is not mandatory to list them. Be careful when eating out as some foods can quickly push you over the limit like burgers, fried chicken and some curries or Chinese dishes.