Identifying and tackling the dangers associated with obesity and morbid obesity involve more than simply losing weight. The Office of the Surgeon General warned in January 2010 that roughly 66 percent of adults and 33 percent of young people in America were overweight or clinically obese. It's clear that a lifestyle of healthy diet and exercise are crucial for your long-term health, and to avoid obesity-related illnesses and premature death. You should consult your doctor about weight issues, and only embark on comprehensive weight loss treatment under her guidance.
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index measures the ratio of body fat to height and weight in adults, and it is a useful yardstick in assessing the extent of obesity. An adult with a BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is considered to be overweight, while a BMI of more than 30 is a clear indication of obesity. A score of more than 40 signifies morbid obesity. The drawback to the BMI is that it standardizes everyone, taking no account of muscle mass or body frame, but it is a helpful, rough guide for risk assessment.
Adult Obesity
The transition from overweight to obesity is generally caused by insufficient exercise or physical activity to balance dietary intake; it can lead to a reduction in your life expectancy of 6 to 7 years. Sedentary lifestyles and far less physical activity in leisure time than in previous generations are contributory factors. There may be genetic reasons why you put on weight quicker than someone else, as well as existing physical illnesses and conditions that predispose you toward obesity, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or low thyroxine levels.
Adult Morbid Obesity
You are considered morbidly obese if your weight is more than twice that of the optimum healthy weight for your frame and height, and your life expectancy reduces on average by 8 to 10 years. The cause of morbid obesity can be a low ratio of physical activity to energy intake, but research has also shown that medication, genetics and trauma can be primary or contributory factors. In addition to cardiovascular and endocrine problems, morbid obesity can also lead to joint and limb problems due to excess weight.
Treatment and Care
Surgery for obesity and morbid obesity is a treatment option, particularly if you find physical activity painful or difficult because of your weight issues. However, psychological counseling usually precedes surgery, and this, along with practical support, is important in your ongoing care and treatment. Increased weight issues are currently stigmatized in modern society, in contrast to the medieval period and later centuries, and patients struggling with their weight are often refused insurance coverage, which can seriously affect their lifestyles. However, instilling healthy habits, providing support and enabling patients to adopt lifelong exercise and dietary habits can reverse the global rise in incidences of obesity and morbid obesity.
References
- National Heart and Lung Blood Institute: Calculate Your Body Mass Index
- NHS Choices; Obesity; Feb. 2010
- NHS National Obesity Observatory: Epidemiology of Morbid Obesity
- MayoClinic.com: Childhood Obesity
- MayoClinic.com: Obesity -- Treatment and Drugs
- Journal of the American Medical Association; Cause-Specific Excess Deaths Associated With Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity; K. M. Flegal, et al.; 2007
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