It is defined as excessive accumulation of fat
in the body. This condition is known as obesity. It is widely regarded
as a pandemic disease condition. It has adverse effects on both
mortality and morbidity. The prevalence of it is increasing day by day.
Body mass index (BMI), which compares weight and height, is greater
than 30 kg/m2
Being obese and being overweight is not exactly the same thing. An
obese person has a large amount of extra body fat, not just a few extra
pounds. People who are obese are very overweight and at risk for
serious health problems.
Types of Obesity:
The fat distribution in the body is identified among the two types of
obesity android & gynoid.
1. Android: - Android type of obesity is likened to the shape of an
apple. The shoulders, face, arms, neck, chest & upper portion
of the abdomen are bloated. The stomach gives a stiff appearance, as
well as the arms, shoulders and breasts. The back seems to be erect but
the neck is compressed and there will be a protruding chest because of
the bulk in the stomach. The lower portion of the body -- the hips,
thighs and legs are thinner beyond proportion in comparison with the
upper part. In these persons the vital organs affected will be mostly
the heart, liver, kidneys & lungs. This type of obesity is
found more in males than females. Android type of obesity is a major
risk for heart damage and heart disease due to high cholesterol.
2. Gynoid: - In this type the lower part of the body has the extra
flesh. This type of obesity is also common to both sexes though females
are more affected. Gynoid type of obesity is similar to pears. The
flesh is somewhat flabby in the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and legs. The
face and neck mostly give a normal appearance. In some persons, the
cheeks may be drawn too. As these persons grow old the whole figure
assumes a stooping posture and the spine is never erect due to the
heavy hips and thighs. This vital organs affected mostly are the
kidneys, uterus, intestines, bladder & bowels. In this type of
obesity, exercises or dieting will not help appreciably in reducing
weight.
3. The third type: - Besides android and gynoid, there is one more type
of obesity. Some people do not belong to any of the above type of
obesity. Their whole body from head to toe looks like a barrel. Their
gait is more to rolling rather than walking. The fat tissues in their
body hinder the movement of all the internal organs and consequently
affect their brisk functioning. For them any exercise is difficult due
to the enormous size of the body. So such person should follow a strict
diet and do plenty of exercise.
Complication:
Cause:
There is a complicated picture of the underlying causes for this
condition. The simple cause is ingestion of more calories than are
required for energy, the excess being stored in the body as fat.
Inactivity and insufficient exercise can be contributing factors;
Overeating may result from unhealthful patterns of eating established
by the family and cultural environment. Certain physical and mental
illnesses and the pharmaceutical substances used to treat them can
increase risk of obesity. Medical illnesses that increase obesity risk
include several rare genetic syndromes as well as some congenital or
acquired conditions: hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, growth hormone
deficiency, and the eating disorders: binge eating disorder like
anorexia nervosa, bulimia, rumination disorder, and pica and night
eating syndrome.
It has been shown, for example, that binging for some people releases
natural opiates in the brain, providing a sense of well-being and
physical pleasure. Other studies have found a strong relationship
between obesity in women and childhood sexual abuse.
Smoking has a significant effect on an individual's weight. Those who
quit smoking gain an average of 4.4 kilograms for men and 5.0 kilograms
for women over ten years. Changing rates of smoking however have had
little effect on the overall rates of obesity.
Some weight-loss experts see obesity as based upon genetics and
physiology rather than as a behavioral or psychological problem. There
are >90 genes which are responsible for the variation in the
weight and a single gene disorder cause severe childhood obesity. These
include mutations of the melanocrin-4 receptors that accounts for
approximately 5% of the severe early onset obesity, defects in the
enzymes in the hypothalamus, and mutations in the leptin gene.
Management:
1.Weight loss diets- Low calorie diet