obesity

defination:

              The defination of obesity vary. In general if we talk about its defination obesity and overweight indicate a weight greater then healthy. Obesity is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount of body fat.

Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. To determine your body mass index, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply by 703. Or divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.

BMI	Weight status
Below 18.5	Underweight
18.5-24.9	Normal
25.0-29.9	Overweight
30.0 and higher	Obesity

causes of obesity

overeating: The main cause of obesity is overeating. Overeating leads to weight gain especiallyi if diet is high in fat.

Physical inactivity: physical inactivity is also one of the cause of obesity.people burn fewer calories than people who are active.

Genetics: A person is more likely to develop obesity if both parents are obese. genetics highly affect obesity.

Frequency of eating: frequency of eating is one of the cause of obesity. people who take small frequent meals produce stable insulin level, whereas large meals cause larely spikes of insulin after meals.

Medication: medication like antidepressants, oral contraceptives etc such medicine cause weight gain.

Psychological factor: emotions of an individual influence eating habits . Many people eat excessively in response to emotions.

Not sleeping enough: research suggest that missing sleep increases the risk of gaining weight.

Complication of obesity.

Obesity has been linked to a number of health complications, some of which can be life threatening if not treated:

• type 2 diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• certain cancers (breast, colon, and endometrial)
• stroke
• gallbladder disease
• fatty liver disease
• high cholesterol
• sleep apnea and other breathing problems
• arthritis
• infertility

Prevention

Whether you're at risk of obesity, currently overweight or at a healthy weight, you can take steps to prevent unhealthy weight gain and related health problems. Not surprisingly, the steps to prevent weight gain are the same as the steps to lose weight: daily exercise, a healthy diet, and a long-term commitment to watch what you eat and drink.

• Exercise regularly. You need to get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to prevent weight gain. Moderately intense physical activities include fast walking and swimming.
• 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. Eat three regular meals a day with limited snacking. You can still enjoy small amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods as an infrequent treat. Just be sure to choose foods that promote a healthy weight and good health most of the time.
• Know and avoid the food traps that cause you to eat. Identify situations that trigger out-of-control eating. Try keeping a journal and write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling and how hungry you are. After a while, you should see patterns emerge. You can plan ahead and develop strategies for handling these types of situations and stay in control of your eating behaviors.
• Monitor your weight regularly. People who weigh themselves at least once a week are more successful in keeping off excess pounds. Monitoring your weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you detect small weight gains before they become big problems.
• Be consistent. Sticking to your healthy-weight plan during the week, on the weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays as much as possible increases your chances of long-term success.