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Obesity

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Obesity

Written by Professor Arne Astrup,

What is obesity?

Obesity is more than just a few extra pounds.

Obesity is the heavy accumulation of fat in your body to such a degree that it rapidly increases your risk of diseases that can damage your health and knock years off your life, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The fat may be equally distributed around the body or concentrated on the stomach (apple-shaped) or the hips and thighs (pear-shaped).

Test yourself Are you apple or pear shaped? Use to find out.

Work out your BMI

Use our BMI calculator.

Otherwise, take your weight (kg) and divide it by the square of your height (m).

For example, if you weigh 80kg and are 1.7m:

1. Multiply your height by itself 1.7x1.7=2.89

2. Divide your weight by this figure.

3. 80 Ã· 2.89= 27.7kg/m2.

27.7 is the BMI.

How common is obesity?

Around one in four men and one in three women in the UK are overweight, according to government statistics.

While slightly more women than men are obese (24 per cent versus 23 per cent), in the last ten years there has been a greater increase in the number of men who are obese.

The Department of Health predicts that if this trend continues, by 2010 around 6.6 million men will be obese compared to 6 million women.

Stomach obesity, where weight is concentrated on the tummy, is the most common type of obesity and affects 30 per cent of adult men.

Obesity and stomach obesity are rapidly increasing, especially in young people.

Children and BMI The BMI figures used in this article apply to adults only.

Doctors use special charts to work out BMI for children to take account of differing rates of growth and development.

What problems can obesity cause?

Psychologically, being overweight can affect your body image and damage self-esteem. In some cases this can cause social anxiety and depression.

Common physical problems include:

difficulties breathing

difficulties walking or running

increased sweating

pain in the knees and back

skin conditions such as acne

gallstones.

The following medical conditions are also more common in obese people than in those of normal weight:

high blood pressure

high cholesterol

diseases related to hardening of the arteries such as heart attack and stroke (cardiovascular disease).

Type 2 diabetes

some types of cancer.

These conditions are often known as obesity-related diseases and are some of the most common causes of death before the age of 75. This is why obesity increases your risk of mortality.

What causes obesity?

Obesity can be hereditary, so some people are at increased risk.

Genetic factors can affect appetite, the rate at which you burn energy (metabolic rate) and how the body stores fat. Examples of genetic diseases are polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism.

But even if your genes make weight gain more likely, it is not inevitable that you will be overweight.

Obesity develops from:

overeating

irregular meals

lack of daily physical activity.

This is why obesity has trebled since 1980, when only 6 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women were obese. In this time our lifestyles have changed rapidly, with the ready availability of convenience foods and car journeys replacing walks to work and school.

It is lifestyle that determines how the genes develop.

Medicines such as antidepressants, corticosteroids and oral contraceptives can also cause weight gain.

When is obesity dangerous?

UK clothes size For women, the waistline target of 80cm means you should comfortably fit into a size 16.

Dress size 14 16 18 20

Waist (cm) 79 84 89 95

Dress size 22 24 26

Waist (cm) 101 107 113

How is obesity treated?

Initially, your doctor will suggest you lose weight through a change in diet and an increase in physical exercise.

Clinical guidelines are to aim for a weight loss of between 5kg and 10kg (11-22lb) over three months. This equals about 0.5kg or 1lb per week.

If you are obese, losing this amount will have a positive effect on your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by reducing blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and cholesterol levels.

A dietitian can help you lose weight by giving nutritional advice on buying and preparing foods and designing a weight-loss plan.

Weight-loss plans are usually based on a low-fat diet of between 1500 and 2000 calories a day, which will result in a weight loss of 5 to 10kg in more than 90 per cent of obese people.

How do diet and exercise help? Your body needs a certain amount of energy (calories) each day. Excess energy is stored as fat. The more active you are, the more calories your body needs.

By eating less than your body needs and exercising more, you force your body to use its existing fat stores for energy.

By burning excess fat, you lose weight.

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