Overweight, Obesity and Weight Loss Products

Obesity is another term for excess body fat. Normal body fat percentages range from 18%-23% in men and 25%-30% in women. Men with a body fat percentage greater than 25% and women with a body fat percentage greater than 30% are considered obese. Obesity occurs when intake of calories exceeds the daily caloric requirements. The National Institute of Health (NIH) classifies obesity as a chronic disease, which requires a lifelong effort.

More than 60 percent of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight. One-quarter of American adults are also obese, putting them at increased health risk for chronic.

To most people, the term "obesity" means to be very overweight. Health professionals define "overweight" as an excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. "Obesity" specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as bodybuilders or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese.

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

What is Overweight?

Overweight refers to increased body weight in relation to height, when compared to some standard of acceptable or desirable weight. Overweight may or may not be due to increases in body fat. It may also be due to an increase in lean muscle. For example, professional athletes may be very lean and muscular, with very little body fat, yet they may weigh more than others of the same height. While they may qualify as "overweight" due to their large muscle mass, they are not necessarily "over fat," regardless of BMI.

What is Overweight?

Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass. The amount of body fat (or adiposity) includes concern for both the distribution of fat throughout the body and the size of the adipose tissue deposits. Body fat distribution can be estimated by skinfold measures, waist-to-hip circumference ratios, or techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging.

Obesity Common Causes

Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. What causes this imbalance between calories in and calories out may differ from one person to another. Genetic, environmental, psychological, and other factors may all play a part.

Genetic factors: Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic cause. Yet families also share diet and lifestyle habits that may contribute to obesity.

Environmental factors: Environment also strongly influences obesity. This includes lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and his or her level of physical activity. Americans tend to eat high-fat foods, and put taste and convenience ahead of nutrition. Also, most Americans do not get enough physical activity.

Some illnesses can lead to obesity or a tendency to gain weight. These include hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, depression, and certain neurological problems that can lead to overeating. Also, drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may cause weight gain. A doctor can tell whether there are underlying medical conditions that are causing weight gain or making weight loss difficult.

Health Risks

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a health hazard. Weighing too much may increase your risk for developing many health problems. If you are overweight or obese on a body mass index (BMI) chart, you may be at risk for:

• diabetes
• hypertension
• heart disease and stroke
• dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• cancer
• sleep apnea
• osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.
• gout, another disease affecting the joints.
• gallbladder disease
• fatty liver disease

Among people who are overweight and obese, weight loss can help reduce the chances of developing these health problems. Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive.

Obesity Symptoms

Symptoms of obesity are the consequences of excess tissue mass. Sleep apnea, obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (Pickwickian syndrome), and skin disorders are relatively common in obese patients. Sleep apnea occurs when an individual temporarily stops breathing while sleeping. The obesity-hypoventilation syndrome occurs when breathing is impaired leading to under-ventilation, flushed or red face, drowsiness. Obesity may also cause fatigue and joint pain from supporting the excess body weight.

Obesity treatment.

There are several treatment options for the management of overweight and obese individuals, including diet therapy, changes in physical activity, behavioral therapy, drug therapy, surgery and a combination of these. The initial goal of weight loss therapy is to decrease body weight by about 10%. Once this goal is met, then further weight loss can be attempted. This weight loss will not occur overnight, and a reasonable timeline for this reduction is 6 months. Once the weight is lost, maintenance of the loss needs to be implemented to ensure that the weight stays off.

To help prevent an increase in weight avoid the following: excess alcohol consumption, stress, depression, boredom and frustration. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle by increasing your activity level: perform aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, increase physical activity in general by walking rather than driving, climb stairs rather than using an elevator or escalator. Reduce consumption of food that is high in fat and sugar.