What is obesity?

According to CDC,overweight is a condition of excessive fat deposits in the body,whereas obesity is a chronic complex multifactorial disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health and quality of living.According to WHO, obesity and overweight can be measured in terms of BMI(Basal metabolic Index), a simple index of weight to height, calculated as weight(kg) divided by square of height(mts). On the basis of BMI, obesity can be classifed as normal from 18.5 to 24.9, categorised as overweight if more than 25, obese if more than 30 and grouped as morbid obese if more than 40.

Is obesity really a  health burden?

In 2009, 23.2% of world’s adult population was overweight and 9.9% was obese. In 2015, this number increased to 1.9 billion and 609 million adults overweight and obese respectively. Over 39% of world’s population obesity rate have increased in all ages and both genders irrespective of geographical locality, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. And this number is going to increase by 2030. According to world obesity federation, India is the third highest percentage of obese person including 12% men, 40% women. Kerala being the highest state with 65.4% obesity, Punjab 62.5%, Delhi 59%, MP 25%, Jharkhand 23%. As per NFHS-5, 6.4% women and 4% men aged between 15-49 years are obese. As per Lancet, a medical journal, it have been estimated that 380 crore people, over half of adults globally,74.6 crore over 1/3rd of childern and adolescent worldwide will be overweight and obese by 2050.Thus, obesity and overweight is an important clinical and public health burden worldwide.

What causes obesity?

Often obesity results from genetic(e.g. Bandet-Biedl syndrome, Prader willi syndrome), behavioral, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight. It results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, like-1) family and genetic predisposition. 2) Life style choices like high calorie intake, junk food, added sugars and beverages physical inactivity etc. 3) Some medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety steroids, OCPs, OHA, anti epileptics. 4) Poor quality sleep .

What obesity can do to our body?

Obesity, characterized by excessive body fat, is a serious health issue with numerous consequences like increased risk of cardiovascular event, stroke, sleep apnea, certain cancers(breast, colon cancer), fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome. Above all this obese person face the social stigma, discrimination and negative social interaction leading to depression, anxiety which consequently impact the quality of life.

Is obesity treatable?

The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. And the mainstay of this treatment is to change lifestyle to such as diet and exercise. But for morbid obese patients (BMI>40),bariatric surgery or an intragastric balloon are advised.