Excessive weight gain, or obesity, can cause serious health problems and impact every area of your life, from the clothes you wear to your ability to keep up with everyday activities. The World Health Organization projects that approximately 700 million people worldwide will be obese by 2015. Combating adult or childhood obesity involves diet, exercise and even surgery in extreme cases.
Identification
Obesity is determined based on a body mass index (BMI) score. The score is obtained by dividing weight by height in inches squared. To obtain height in inches squared, the height number is multiplied by itself. After weight is divided by height squared, the total is multiplied by 703 to determine the BMI. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an online calculator to make the process easier (see Resources). A person is considered obese if his BMI is 30 or higher and is classified as overweight if the BMI ranges between 25 and 29.9. A slightly different formula is determined to determine a child's BMI, as the child's age and growth pattern must be taken into account.
Risk Factors
Obesity occurs when you consume too many calories for your activity level. Several factors can contribute to obesity in both children and adults. Constantly eating a high-calorie, high-fat diet and eating large portions will cause weight gain. A poor diet, coupled with lack of exercise, only makes the problem worse, as exercise is needed to burn off excess calories. Other risk factors for obesity include advancing age, low income level, quitting smoking, the effects of genetics on body fat distribution and a family history of obesity. Medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, can cause obesity, as can taking certain medications, including antidepressants, diabetes drugs, beta blockers, steroids and medications to control psychosis.
Significance
The risk for developing serious disease rises as the BMI score increases. Being obese can raise your chances of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, degenerative joint disease, gallstones and some forms of cancer. Obesity in childhood is associated with a higher chance of disability in adulthood and premature death, according to WHO.
Treatment
Losing weight can be accomplished by eating a healthy, low-calorie diet and exercising regularly. Support groups and formal weight loss groups can be beneficial if it is difficult to lose weight on your own. If you are unsuccessful in losing weight, despite dieting and exercising, your doctor may recommend that you try prescription weight loss drugs. These drugs work to make your feel full faster or block fat from being absorbed or digested. Weight loss surgery may be recommended if you are extremely obese and have been unable to lose weight using any other weight loss method. Several surgical techniques can be used to make the usable section of your stomach smaller, reducing the number of calories you can consume. Significant complications can occur with weight loss surgery, including death.
Considerations
Helping an obese child lose weight may involve changing the way the entire family eats. Removing high-calorie snacks from your home and preparing low-calorie meals will reduce the temptation to overeat. Weight loss is usually recommended for children over age seven, according to the Mayo Clinic, and should be slow and steady. Successful weight loss also depends on encouraging your child to become involved in exercise or a physical activity and involves monitoring of both exercise and food intake by the parents.
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