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Overweight and obesity according
to World Health Organization (WHO) are defined as abnormal or excessive fat
accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of
obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided
by the square of his or her height (in metres). A person with a BMI of 30 or
more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than
25 is considered overweight.
Obesity and overweight increase your
risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high
blood pressure.
Overweight and obesity are both
labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered
healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have
been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health
problems.
Prevalence of overweight/obesity
is quite high in cities especially, Lagos Nigeria. High socioeconomic class,
consumption of energy dense food, and lack of adequate physical activities
appear to be major factors contributing to this high prevalence.
In rural areas, the rationale
behind overweight and obesity among the poor is over-reliance on carbohydrates
such as yam, rice, garri among others.
In summary, below are the list
of causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention of overweight and obesity:
Causes
·
Consuming too many calories.
·
Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
·
Not sleeping enough.
·
Endocrine disruptors, such as some foods that
interfere with lipid metabolism.
Medications that make patients put on weight.
·
Inactivity
Signs and Symptoms of Overweight and Obesity
·
Clothes feeling tight and needing a larger size.
·
The scale showing that you've gained weight.
·
Having extra fat around the waist.
·
A higher
than normal body mass index and waist circumference.
Treatment
The goal of obesity treatment is
to reach and stay at a healthy weight. All weight-loss programs require changes
in your eating habits and increased physical activity. The treatment methods
that are right for you depend on your level of obesity, your overall health and
your willingness to participate in your weight-loss plan.
Other treatment tools include:
·
Dietary changes
·
Exercise and activity.
·
Behavior change
·
Prescription weight-loss medications.
·
Weight-loss surgery
How Can
Overweight and Obesity Be Prevented?
According
to nhlbi.nih.gov a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent overweight and
obesity. Many lifestyle habits begin during childhood. Thus, parents and
families should encourage their children to make healthy choices, such as
following a healthy diet and being physically active.
Make the following healthy lifestyle a family goal. For example:
- Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthy food choices, keep your calorie needs and your family's calorie needs in mind, and focus on the balance of energy IN and energy OUT.
- Focus on portion size. Watch the portion sizes in fast food and other restaurants. The portions served often are enough for two or three people. Children's portion sizes should be smaller than those for adults. Cutting back on portion size will help you balance energy IN and energy OUT.
- Be active. Make personal and family time active. Find activities that everyone will enjoy. For example, go for a brisk walk, bike or rollerblade, or train together for a walk or run.
- Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs, computers, DVDs, and videogames because they limit time for physical activity. Health experts recommend 2 hours or less a day of screen time that's not work- or homework-related.
- Keep track of your weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. Also, keep track of your children's growth.
Always
remember health is wealth and too much of everything is bad!
