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Home :: Family Health :: Obesity Obesity - Obesity symptom, treatment, causes
When the person has excess body fat in proportion to his height and gender, he is said to be obese. A certain amount of body fat is necessary for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. Being seriously overweight puts you at greater risk of developing high blood pressure and many other serious health risks. Ultimately, obesity can even be life-threatening. Annually in the United States, more than 300,000 deaths are linked to obesity. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and in other developed countries. More than half of Americans are overweight including at least 1 in 5 children. Nearly one third are obese. Obesity is on the rise in our society because food is abundant and physical activity is optional. The good news is that even a modest weight loss can bring health improvements. In many cases, you can accomplish this by eating healthier, exercising and changing behaviors. For people who don't respond to lifestyle changes, prescription medications and surgical techniques are available to enhance the weight-loss process.
Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30. Obesity is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. In the United States, this increase has been dramatic Between 1980 and 1999, the percentage of overweight people increased from 47 to 61%, and the percentage of obese people increased from 15 to 26%. Obesity is more common among women than among men. How common it is (prevalence) varies by age and race. For example, prevalence increases from about 14% at age 25 to 32% at age 55, then decreases to 22% at age 75. Obesity is equally common among black and white men and is slightly more common among Hispanic men. However, obesity is much more common among black and Hispanic women than among white women. About 67% of middle-aged black women are overweight or obese compared with 45% of middle-aged white women.
Causes of Obesity
The common Causes of Obesity :
- Excess alcohol intake .
- Consumption of more food than the body can use .
- Metabolic disorders .
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Genetic factors .
- Hormonal disorders.
- Over consumption of fatty fried foods.
Symptoms of Obesity
Some common Symptoms of Obesity :
- Extra body fat.
- Strain on the weight bearing joints
- Large body frame.
- Difficulty in doing daily activities.
- Lethargy .
- Breathlessness .
Treatment of Obesity
- Eat a low calorie or carbohydrate diet.
- Regular exercise improves the fitness of obese people and their feeling of well-being.
- A high fiber and a low fat diet.
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