Hmrecovery.org - Health Care Information

Obesity refers to a medical condition in which an excessive amount of body fat is accumulated in the body. It is a serious medical condition as it may lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, arthritis and various other medical problems. To calculate the level of obesity in a person, experts have devised a formula called the body mass index (BMI); the BMI compares weight and height. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). Based on the BMI calculation, medical experts categorize people as underweight, overweight or obese. Given below are BMI categories for adults:

• BMI below 18.5 = underweight
• BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 = normal weight
• BMI between 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• BMI between 30 to 39.9 = obese
• BMI greater than 40 = extremely obese

Though BMI is an important indicator of obesity, it has certain limitations. For instance, as the BMI is entirely dependant on the net weight and height of the individual it does not take into account the distribution of muscle and bone mass. In addition, the BMI also does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. This often results in misleading results. With the BMI indicator there is always the potential risk of overestimating ‘fatness’ in individuals with high muscle mass, such as body-builders. Besides, the BMI underestimates the fat deposits in those with less lean body mass, such as the elderly. For this reason, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that in Caucasians waist measurements of 94cm or more in men and 80cm or more in women may result in adverse effects on health, with increased risks at 102cm or more in men and 88cm in women.

Studies conducted on the swine flu or H1N1 virus epidemic that recently struck various parts of the world, particularly US has shown that obesity may aggravate swine flu complications. Though the studies have not been concluded, doctors have been alerted to treat obese patients more aggressively, if required by doubling the dose of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) to prevent life threatening complications from the swine flu.

The startling trend of a higher risk of swine flu complications among obese was noticed by the researchers from the University of Michigan Medical Center. The researchers studied 10 swine flu patients admitted to the hospital who were suffering from severe swine flu complications. It was found that nine out of the 10 patients were obese while seven of these patients were morbidly obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40.

These patients suffered from serious complications like multiple organ failure, severe respiratory distress syndrome, blood clots in the lungs and kidney failure. While three out of the ten patients have died, others have reportedly been unable to recover from these conditions.

The results of the study are striking because so far the researchers have never found a link between seasonal flu complications and obesity. Experts are also worried that if obesity is indeed a risk factor than a high percentage of the population is at a greater risk since obesity affects millions of people across the world.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States is considering putting obese patients at high priority for swine flu treatment along with other high-risk patients. When the swine flu vaccine becomes available, obese people would be given priority along with other high-risk patients.

While some doctors believe that people with morbid obesity are more severely affected by swine flu complications others believe that overweight people are also adversely affected by swine flu. Some health officials say that the trend may be because overweight people are more likely to suffer from asthma and other conditions that make them more susceptible. Experts are still analyzing the statistics and have not yet confirmed the link between obesity and swine flu complications.

Water is extremely essential for our body. Drinking adequate amount of water everyday helps to keep our body function smooth and also helps in our efforts to lose weight. When we do not drink water for a long time, our body starts misinterpreting thirst for longing of something sweet, so we tend to drink sugary drinks or any other beverage that we like. This adds on to calories and makes us gain weight. Experts believe that if we drink sufficient water we can eliminate need for caffeine, soda, alcohol and sugary drinks and save ourselves from consuming unwanted calories. Excess sugar in the body is mostly followed because of an urge to drink sugary liquids; hence, drinking water helps as a natural weight loss method.

When we do not drink water our body becomes dehydrated so it starts holding on to water in the body more strongly as it wants to preserve whatever is left in there. This causes our body to become bloated and we bear extra weight. It has also been noted that a dehydrated body is not able to digest food properly, this again causes weight gain.

Body water requirement to maintain weight
Experts believe that we should ideally consume a minimum of 8 glasses (8-ounce glass) of water everyday. More if you do physical activity. Our body is continuously losing water through urine, faeces, skin and from lungs. We need to balance this loss of water continuously by drinking water.

Water helps to expel toxins and free radicals out of your system that get in to your system with the junk food. By washing off these toxins, water helps to decrease the risk of diseases. Besides, when you drink water before meal it suppresses your appetite and thereby reduces your calorie intake. Further, water also works as an energy booster as it continuously helps your body to break down food.

In many developed nations of the world, obesity is a growing health problem. It is affecting men, women, and children equally, primarily due to their irregular or sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. In some cases, obesity is caused due to physical conditions.

The most standard measure of obesity, even used by doctors, is body mass index or BMI. It is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms with your height in metres squared. Your waist circumference can also be a measure of obesity and tells a lot about health conditions that you are likely to suffer from in near future.

Obesity is related to many serious health risks that include heart problems, diabetes, stroke, cancer, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, gout, gall bladder disease, and gall stones. You can lower your health risks due these diseases by seeking proper medical care.

When to seek medical care?
When you feel overweight problems are shaping into something serious and posing a great health risk, then you should have a thorough check up done by a doctor. The doctor can measure your BMI level and then may prescribe any suitable treatment to you.

There is pre-defined table of BMI values that can classify the different obesity levels of patients. According to this table, if your BMI level is:

• Less than 18.5, then you are an underweight person and require to gain some weight
• Within 18.5 to 25, then your weight is ideal and considered healthy
• Within 25 to 30, then you are an overweight person who needs to lose some weight
• Within 30 to 40, then you are classified as clinically obese who must lose extra weight to keep related health risks away

Nowadays, the weight loss market is full of medicines, most of which claim to be the next miracle weight loss drug. The reality is totally reverse, however and there is no weight loss drug that can help you with total weight loss in one night. Although there are some effective prescription drugs like Reductil and Xenical that can help you with moderate amount of weight loss, you shouldn’t take them without a medical consultation from a doctor.

Not being able to lose weight?? It can be really frustrating but you need not be as there are successful solutions available to make you biggest weight loser!
Weight loss is about healthy living and not just looking good and attaining an ideal figure. Being overweight can adversely affect your health unless you take necessary measures to keep fit yourself. Weight loss plans are step ahead in this direction! Weight loss plans help you achieve your goals of being biggest weight loser, lead healthy, simple and meaningful life!

There are several ways to attain weight loss. Whatsoever way you chose, it will require strong determination. Keep your motivations high. You should firmly stick to your weight loss program, only then you can attain big weight loss! Most often, obese or overweight people don’t find enough accurate information that can prove to be helpful for successful weight loss. Let’s discuss most available ways to weight loss:

Various Weight loss Procedures can include:

1. Obesity Surgery that includes surgical weight loss procedures using gastric band, gastric balloon etc.
2. Exercising – It not only helps you lose weight but you will also be fitter.
3. Diet Program which includes weight loss Food. Combined with exercise, healthy eating leads to healthy weight!
4. Weight loss prescription medicines which are clinically proven and legally approved for sale by FDA( Food and Drug Administration)

First step in deciding for which approach is right for you in attaining a big weight loss is to assess your own weight. You need to determine whether you fall in category of obese or overweight people. It requires a simple test which can be done through BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator. BMI is a measure of relative weight (weight for height) and is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. BMI greater than 30 is indication of being obese while more than 25 mean you are overweight.

Real task lies in choosing correct way to lose weight and once you are capable enough to figure out that path, losing weight is not a big deal!

obesity is not a single condition; it normally has several other dangerous health risks associated with it. But before we discuss these risks, let us take a look at what causes obesity.

Obesity is a condition of the body wherein you accumulate more fats than are healthy as you burn lesser calories than your intake. It can be caused by a number of factors including physical, psychological, environment, medical, and hereditary.

Physical causes could be in the form of certain diseases or conditions that lead to over-eating. Psychological factors on the other hand are normally behavioural issues such as stress, anger, depression or boredom that lead a person to continuously eat.

Environmental causes include the inundation of fast food, processed food and enriched food that each one of us faces every day. Lack of exercise and lethargic lifestyles add to these. Medical factors relate to the side effects of certain medicines that lead to excessive weight gain. The last group of factors – hereditary include genes; obesity tends to run in the family.

Talking about the risks due to obesity, too much of weight in the body brings can lead to multiple conditions, from increased blood pressure to increased cholesterol levels and heart disease. Some of the commonly associated risks of obesity include:

• Back problems
• Cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Fatigue
• Gallstones
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Insomnia
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Pregnancy complications
• Restricted mobility
• Sleep apnea
• Strokes
• Surgical complications
• Urinary stress incontinence

When to Seek Medical Care

If you are tending towards obesity, the right time to seek medical care is at the earliest. Obesity is when you are excessively overweight. In medical terms, doctors recognise a patient as obese when his/her body mass index (BMI) is over 30. If the BMI is between 25 and 30, the patient is said to be overweight.

If you have started gaining weight and are already overweight, you should not wait to turn obese before seeking medical treatment. It is easier to bring weight under control while in the overweight stage than obese. So where weight issues are concerned, the sooner you talk to your doctor, the better.