Obesity
Obesity in absolute terms is an increase of body fatty tissue
mass. In a practical setting it is difficult to measure this directly, and
obesity is typically measured by BMI (body mass index) and in terms of its
distribution through waist circumference or waist-hip circumference ratio
measurements. In addition, the presence of obesity needs to be evaluated in the
context of other risk factors and comorbidities (other medical conditions that
could influence risk of complications)
BMI
Body mass index or BMI is a simple and widely used method for
estimating body fat mass. BMI is an accurate reflection of body fat percentage
in the majority of the adult population, but is less accurate in situations
that affect body composition such as in body builders and pregnancy
BMI is calculated by dividing the subject's weight by the square
of his/her height, typically expressed either in metric or US
"Customary" units:
Metric: BMI = kg
/ m2
Where kg is the subject's weight in kilograms and m
is the subject's height in metres.
US/Customary and
imperial: BMI = lb * 703 / in2
Where lb is the subject's weight in pounds and in
is the subject's height in inches
The most commonly used definitions, established by the WHO in
1997 and published in 2000, provide the following values:
- A BMI less than 18.5 is underweight
- A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is normal
weight
- A BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight
- A BMI of 30.0–34.9 is class I
obesity
- A BMI of 35.0-39.9 is class II
obesity
- A BMI of > 40.0 is class III
obesity or severe / morbidly obese
- A BMI of 35.0 or higher in the
presence of at least one other significant comorbidity is also
classified by some bodies as morbid obesity.
Causes
Most researchers agree that a combination of excessive calorie
consumption and a sedentary lifestyle are the primary causes of obesity in the
majority of the population. Other less well established or minor influences
include genetic causes, medical and psychiatric illnesses, and microbiological
causes.
A review identifies ten other possibly under investigated causes
for recently increasing rates of obesity:
(1) Insufficient sleep
(2) Endocrine disruptors - food substances that interfere with
lipid metabolism,
(3) decreased variability in ambient temperature,
(4) decreased rates of smoking, which suppresses appetite,
(5) increased use of medication that leads to weight gain,
(6) Increased distribution of ethnic and age groups that tend to
be heavier,
(7) Pregnancy at a later age,
(8) Intrauterine and intergenerational effects,
(9) Positive natural selection of people with a higher BMI,
(10) Assortative mating, heavier people tending to form
relationships with each other.
Dietary
v Despite the widespread
availability of nutritional information in schools, doctors' offices, on the
internet and on product packaging, it is evident that overeating remains a
substantial problem.
Sedentary lifestyle
v An increasingly sedentary
lifestyle plays a significant role in obesity. There has been a trend toward
decreased physical activity due in part to increasingly mechanized forms of
work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization. Studies in
children and adults have found an association between the number of hours of
television watched and the prevalence of obesity. Driving one's children to
school also decreases the amount of exercise that these children get and has
led to calls for reduced car use around schools. An association between leisure
time activity and obesity has been found.
Genetics
v Like many other medical
conditions, obesity is the result of interplay between genetic and
environmental factors. Polymorphisms in various genes controlling
appetite, metabolism, and adipokine release may predispose to obesity when
sufficient calories are present. Obesity is a major feature in a number of rare
genetic conditions: Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, MOMO
syndrome, leptin receptor mutations, and melanocortin receptor mutations. In a
people with early-onset severe obesity (defined by an onset before ten years of
age and body mass index over three standard deviations above normal), 7% harbour
a single locus mutation. Apart from the above syndromes, an association has
been found between an FTO gene polymorphism and weight. The 16% of
adults in the study who were homozygous for this allele weighed about 3
kilograms more then those who had not inherited this trait and subsequently had
a 1.6 fold greater rate of obesity.
v On a population level,
the thrifty gene hypothesis postulates that certain ethnic groups may be
more prone to obesity when exposed to an equivalent environment. Their ability
to take advantage of rare periods of abundance by storing energy as fat would
be advantageous during times of varying food availability. Individuals with
greater adipose reserves would be more likely survive famine. This tendency to
store fat however would be maladaptive in societies with stable food supplies.
Medical illness
v Certain physical and
mental illnesses and the pharmaceutical substances used to treat them can
increase one's risk of obesity. Medical illnesses that increase obesity risk
include several rare genetic syndromes (listed above) as well as some
congenital or acquired conditions: (1) hypothyroidism, (2) Cushing's syndrome,
(3) growth hormone deficiency, and (4) eating disorders such bulimia nervosa,
binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating.
v Certain medications may
cause weight gain and or negative changes in body composition, such as
steroids, atypical antipsychotics, some fertility medication, insulin and
sulfonylureas.
Microbiological
v The role of bacteria
colonizing the digestive tract in the development of obesity has recently become
the subject of investigation. Bacteria participate in digestion (especially of
fatty acids and polysaccharides), and alterations in the proportion of
particular strains of bacteria may explain why certain people are more prone to
weight gain than others. Human digestive tract bacteria are generally either member
of the phyla of bacteroidetes or of firmicutes. In obese people, there is a
relative abundance of firmicutes (which cause relatively high energy
absorption), which is restored by weight loss. From these results it cannot be
concluded whether this imbalance is the cause or effect of obesity.
Social determinants
v The correlation between social class and BMI is inconsistent.
Comparing net worth with BMI found obese Americanians approximately half as
wealthy as thin ones. When income differentials were factored out, the inequity
persisted. A tendency to rely on fast food is seen as one of the reasons why
this result occurred. Another study found women who married into a higher
social class are thinner than women who married into a lower social class. A
Health Survey however found the exact opposite. It found that men from lower
middle income households were less likely to be obese than were those in the
highest income households and women from middle income households had the
highest rates of obesity.
Obesity Homeopathy Treatment
Symptomatic Homeopathy works well for Obesity, It helps to prevent further recurrence also.
So its good to consult a experienced Homeopathy physician without any
hesitation. Homoeopathic system of
medicine are very effective for obesity,
regular intake of medicine is very much helpful to control and reduce
the weight without any side effect
Whom to contact for Obesity Treatment
Dr.Senthil
Kumar Treats many cases of Obesity,
In his medical professional experience with successful results. Many patients
get relief after taking treatment from Dr.Senthil Kumar. Dr.Senthil Kumar
visits Chennai at Vivekanantha Homeopathy Clinic, Velachery, Chennai 42. To get
appointment please call 9786901830, +91 94430 54168 or mail to consult.ur.dr@gmail.com,
For
more details & Consultation Feel free to contact us.
Vivekanantha Clinic Consultation Champers
at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please Call us or Mail Us
For appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number - Problem in Single word -
date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini – 30 - 99xxxxxxx0 – Obesity – 21st Oct, Sunday - Chennai ), You will receive Appointment
details through SMS
