Category: Endocrine & Metabolic / Metabolic / Lifestyle
### Summary Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It is a medical problem that increases your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. ### What It Is Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Your body mass index is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in meters (m) squared. ### How It Affects The Body People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including: - **Heart disease and strokes:** Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and strokes. - **Type 2 diabetes:** Obesity can affect the way your body uses insulin to control blood sugar levels. - **Certain cancers:** Obesity may increase your risk of cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate. - **Digestive problems:** Obesity increases the likelihood that you'll develop heartburn, gallbladder disease and liver problems. - **Sleep apnea:** People with obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. - **Osteoarthritis:** Obesity increases the stress placed on weight-bearing joints, in addition to promoting inflammation within the body. ### Who Is At Risk - **Genetics:** Your genes may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. - **Family lifestyle:** Obesity tends to run in families. If one or both of your parents are obese, your risk of being obese is increased. - **Inactivity:** If you're not very active, you don't burn as many calories. - **Unhealthy diet:** A diet that's high in calories, lacking in fruits and vegetables, full of fast food, and laden with high-calorie beverages and oversized portions contributes to weight gain. - **Medical problems:** In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing syndrome and other conditions. Medical problems, such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain. - **Certain medications:** Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids and beta blockers. - **Social and economic issues:** Research has linked social and economic factors to obesity. Avoiding obesity is difficult if you don't have safe areas to walk or exercise. Similarly, you may not have been taught healthy ways of cooking, or you may not have access to healthier foods. - **Age:** Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity. - **Pregnancy:** Weight gain is common during pregnancy. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. - **Quitting smoking:** Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain. And for some, it can lead to enough weight gain to qualify as obesity. - **Lack of sleep:** Not getting enough sleep or getting too much sleep can cause changes in hormones that increase your appetite. - **Stress:** Many external factors that cause stress may contribute to obesity. People often seek more high-calorie food when experiencing stressful situations. - **Microbiome:** Your gut bacteria are affected by what you eat and may contribute to weight gain or difficulty losing weight. ### Treatment Options - **Dietary changes:** Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are vital to overcoming obesity. - **Exercise and physical activity:** Increased physical activity or exercise is an essential part of obesity treatment. - **Behavior changes:** A counseling program can help you make lifestyle changes and lose weight. - **Prescription weight-loss medication:** Your doctor may prescribe weight-loss medication in some situations. - **Endoscopic procedures for weight loss:** These types of procedures don't require any incisions in your skin. After you're under anesthesia, flexible tubes and tools are inserted through your mouth and down your throat into your stomach. - **Weight-loss surgery:** Common weight-loss surgeries include gastric bypass surgery, adjustable gastric banding, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and gastric sleeve. ### Prevention - **Exercise regularly:** You need to get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to prevent weight gain. - **Follow a healthy-eating plan:** Focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid saturated fat and limit sweets and alcohol. - **Know and avoid the food traps that cause you to eat:** Identify situations that trigger out-of-control eating. - **Monitor your weight regularly:** People who weigh themselves at least once a week are more successful in keeping off excess pounds. - **Be consistent:** Sticking to your healthy-weight plan during the week, on the weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays increases your chances of long-term success.
890 million adults obese (WHO 2022)
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