Obesity
The term obesity describes when a person is overweight with a lot of body fat. Anyone with a BMI (body mass index) of more than 30 is obese, and more than 25 and below 30 is overweight.
The Indian prevalence varies on age, gender, environment, and more. The obesity rate in India is somewhere between 11.8% and 31.3%.
Obesity causes
Consuming more calories, precisely foods that are high in fat and sugar, than you burn off through physical activities. The excess calories and energy will transfer and stays in the body as fat.
The condition is an increasingly common issue for people with modern living that involves overeating cheap, high in calorie foods and spending a lot of time sitting down.
Some underlying health conditions occasionally contribute to obesity, such as an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
Risks
It’s crucial to tackle the condition since it can lead to several severe and potentially life-threatening conditions, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Certain cancers (breast cancer and bowel cancer)
- Stroke
Other related problems
Obesity can cause several day-to-day problems, including:
- Breathlessness
- Increased sweating
- Snoring
- Difficulty performing physical activity
- Tiredness
- Joint and back pain
- Feeling isolated
- Low confidence and self-esteem
The associated psychological problems can impact relationships with friends and family.
Severe health conditions
Being obese can lead to many potentially life-threatening conditions, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Asthma
- Metabolic syndrome
- Uterine or womb cancer
- Gallstones
- Reduced fertility
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnoea
- Liver and kidney diseases
- Pregnancy complication
Treatments and preventions
A healthy, reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise are the best ways to treat obesity. Make sure you:
- Consume a balanced calorie diet recommended by your doctor or health professionals, like a dietitian
- Join a local weight loss group
- Do activities like fast walking, swimming, jogging, or any sports for 150–300 minutes a week.
- Chew slowly and eat your food to avoid situating where you want to overeat
Psychological support from a healthcare professional can also change how you think about eating and food. When the lifestyle changes aren’t enough, the doctor might prescribe you certain medications.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022