According to 2010 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 33.8 percent of adults in the United States are obese. Obesity has been linked to a number of health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In fact, health problems connected with obesity cost the U.S. more than $47 billion every year. The line between being overweight and being obese is not as clear as you might think. Many people who think they are just overweight might actually fall into the obese category.
Clinical Signs
Medically, you are obese if you have a body mass index higher than 30. The BMI is the relationship between height and weight. The formula used to calculate your own BMI is fairly complex, but you can use a table like the one available at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's website to figure out where your numbers are. For example, a person who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall would have to weigh 180 lbs. to have a BMI of 30. A person who is 5 feet tall, however, would be obese at 153 lbs. Your doctor can also help you determine your BMI --- and can give you professional advice on a goal weight and how to reach it healthily.
Breathing Problems
Obesity can cause a number of breathing problems. This is because the extra weight squeezes the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe in and out. Common breathing problems connected to obesity include being out of breath after just a short period of physical activity, snoring, sleep apnea and restricted breathing.
Other Physical Problems
Back and joint pains, particularly in the knees, are very common in obese people. This could lead to osteoarthritis and other bone and joint conditions. Obese people can also experience increased sweating, fatigue and high blood pressure. Obesity can also have psychological effects and lead to depression.
Obvious Signs
The most obvious sign of obesity can be seen on a scale. According to the Center for Surgical Treatment of Obesity at St. Mary Medical Center, you're considered mildly obese if you weight more than 120 percent of your ideal weight. For example, a man who is 5-feet-10 has a maximum ideal weight of 183 lbs., the Rush University Medical Center calculates. If he's 219 lbs. or more, he would fit into the category of obese.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Obesity; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; December 23, 2008
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: How Are Overweight and Obesity Diagnosed?
- National Health Service: Symptoms of Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adult Obesity
- Rush University Medical Center: What Is a Healthy Weight?
- St. Mary Medical Center: Obesity Defined
Member Comments