| Obesity is understood as Excessive
Overweight. "Obesity", however, specifically refers
to an excess amount of body fat. Whereas "overweight"
is defined as an excess amount of body weight that includes
muscle, bone, fat, and water. Some people, such as bodybuilders
or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight
without being obese. Let's refer to the following definition
of obesity and overweight:
Overweight: A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.99, or,
who is between 25-30 lbs. over the recommended weight for
a person's height.
Obese: The condition of being considerably overweight
refers to a person with a BMI of 30 or greater, or, who is
at least 30 lbs. over the recommended weight for a person's
height
How is Obesity Measured?
In recent years, the body mass index (BMI) has become the
medical standard used to measure overweight and obesity. It
is a height-weight system of measurement that applies to both
sexes. It's not a perfect system, because (e.g.) very muscular
people may fall into the "overweight" category when
they are actually healthy and fit. But it's a useful pointer
for most people.
How is Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculated?
BMI is found by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by
height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is:
BMI = kg/m2.
[Note: To determine your BMI using pounds and inches, multiply
your weight in pounds by 704.5, then divide the result by
your height in inches, and divide that result by your height
in inches a second time.]
Body Fat Distribution: "Pears" or "Apples"
How much fat you have is one thing. Where the fat is LOCATED
is a separate issue. If you carry fat mainly around your waist,
you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.
Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches, or
men with a measurement of more than 40 inches have a higher
health risk because of their fat distribution.
Causes of Obesity
In scientific terms, 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. Separating
these from genetic factors is often difficult. Even so, science
shows that heredity is linked to obesity.
Environmental Factors: 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.
Try these techniques that have helped some people lose weight
and keep it off:
- Learn how to choose more nutritious meals that are lower
in fat.
- Learn to recognize and control environmental cues (like
inviting smells) that make you want to eat when you're not
hungry.
- Become more physically active.
- Keep records of your food intake and physical activity.
Psychological Factors: Psychological factors may also
influence eating habits. Many people eat in response to negative
emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger.
Most overweight people have no more psychological problems
than people of average weight. Still, up to 10 percent of
people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their
own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge
eating disorder. This disorder is even more common in people
who are severely obese.
Other Causes of Obesity: 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.
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