BIG facts about OBESITY
Most people really love to eat except maybe for those who are anorexic. Try to think of it, some people love to eat while watching their favorite program on TV or movie. Some pours their attention on food when they are depressed or angry. Even at work, there are folks who can’t focus on their job without having some munchies. If those do not show love for food, then I don’t know what it is. As a result of this passion for food that some of us have, a condition which is termed as Obesity has arisen.
Obesity is a state where in a person exceeds the normal and healthy level of stored energy in the fatty tissues of humans.
One way of telling whether a person is obese or not is by getting his Body Mass Index. A person can be classified as obese if he or she has a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher. BMI is a method used for estimating body fat. It can be calculated by dividing the person’s weight by the square of his/her height. It can either be expressed in metric units (kg/m²) or in terms of US units (lb/in²) Based on the table released by the World Health Organization in 2000, 18.5–24.9 kg / m² is the normal BMI. Of course, there are several factors that need to be considered in interpreting the BMI of a person such as his race, ethnicity, age and sex.
Measuring the waist circumference is also a determining method that can be performed if you want to know your health status. Men who have a waist circumference greater that 102 cm are considered obese. In women, the waist circumference should not exceed 88 cm. Waist Circumference is said to be a better method than BMI because this method also helps explain obesity-related health risks.
Now, if you really want to know how much fat you have in your body, try Body fat measurement. This method is carried out on special clinics with the necessary equipment. Measurement of one’s body fat can be obtained by underwater weighing. Another is by Skinfold test in which the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer is measured using a pinch of skin. Computed Tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry are sets of other laboratory tests that can assess body fat.
Aside from the fact that being obese does not generate a good impression when it comes to the physical aspect, it also is a trigger for other serious condition. A very long list of complications may arise from being obese. Increased fat mass and number of fat cells plus high cholesterol level may lead to congestive heart failure, enlarged heart, varicose veins, pulmonary embolism, infertility, fatty liver disease, hernia, colorectal cancer, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure, breast cancer, uterine cancer, osteoarthritis, low back pain, stroke, dementia, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, obesity hyperventilation syndrome, asthma and a lot more. On the psychological side, people with obesity may experience depression, low self-esteem and social alienation.
Well, it is a known fact that as living organisms, we need food to survive. But always remember, everything that’s too mush is bad. Just like in plants. Plants need to be fertilized, watered and exposed to sunlight. But when there is too much water, fertilizer and sunlight, what happens? Right! They die. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the key to a disease-free life. If you don’t want to shorten your lifespan, better control and watch your food intake. Also, do not forget to perform some exercises everyday to help you burn those fats.
Most people really love to eat except maybe for those who are anorexic. Try to think of it, some people love to eat while watching their favorite program on TV or movie. Some pours their attention on food when they are depressed or angry. Even at work, there are folks who can’t focus on their job without having some munchies. If those do not show love for food, then I don’t know what it is. As a result of this passion for food that some of us have, a condition which is termed as Obesity has arisen.
Obesity is a state where in a person exceeds the normal and healthy level of stored energy in the fatty tissues of humans.
One way of telling whether a person is obese or not is by getting his Body Mass Index. A person can be classified as obese if he or she has a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher. BMI is a method used for estimating body fat. It can be calculated by dividing the person’s weight by the square of his/her height. It can either be expressed in metric units (kg/m²) or in terms of US units (lb/in²) Based on the table released by the World Health Organization in 2000, 18.5–24.9 kg / m² is the normal BMI. Of course, there are several factors that need to be considered in interpreting the BMI of a person such as his race, ethnicity, age and sex.
Measuring the waist circumference is also a determining method that can be performed if you want to know your health status. Men who have a waist circumference greater that 102 cm are considered obese. In women, the waist circumference should not exceed 88 cm. Waist Circumference is said to be a better method than BMI because this method also helps explain obesity-related health risks.
Now, if you really want to know how much fat you have in your body, try Body fat measurement. This method is carried out on special clinics with the necessary equipment. Measurement of one’s body fat can be obtained by underwater weighing. Another is by Skinfold test in which the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer is measured using a pinch of skin. Computed Tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry are sets of other laboratory tests that can assess body fat.
Aside from the fact that being obese does not generate a good impression when it comes to the physical aspect, it also is a trigger for other serious condition. A very long list of complications may arise from being obese. Increased fat mass and number of fat cells plus high cholesterol level may lead to congestive heart failure, enlarged heart, varicose veins, pulmonary embolism, infertility, fatty liver disease, hernia, colorectal cancer, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure, breast cancer, uterine cancer, osteoarthritis, low back pain, stroke, dementia, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, obesity hyperventilation syndrome, asthma and a lot more. On the psychological side, people with obesity may experience depression, low self-esteem and social alienation.
Well, it is a known fact that as living organisms, we need food to survive. But always remember, everything that’s too mush is bad. Just like in plants. Plants need to be fertilized, watered and exposed to sunlight. But when there is too much water, fertilizer and sunlight, what happens? Right! They die. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the key to a disease-free life. If you don’t want to shorten your lifespan, better control and watch your food intake. Also, do not forget to perform some exercises everyday to help you burn those fats.
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