OBESITY and OVERWEIGHT
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The prevalence of obesity in children has increased markedly. Obesity has also been overgrowing throughout the world, and the incidence of obesity nearly doubled from 1991 to 1998. In 2015, almost 40% of adults were obese in the U.S. Vietnam records the highest rise in obesity in Southeast Asia.
What are obesity and overweight?
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair overweight. Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. To quantify what excess is, physicians use the body mass index or BMI to measure excess fat tissue. Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
For adults, A BMI > 25 is overweight, BMI > 35 is obese.
Obesity as a Disease?
In 2013 the American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized that obesity is a disease. This decision was met with some controversy, but it indicates the importance of appropriately preventing and treating obesity. Health care professionals who treat obesity were generally pleased with this decision and hoped it would increase primary care physicians addressing obesity with the level of seriousness and compassion it deserves. In the long run, this categorization as a disease may lead to improved insurance coverage for the treatment of obesity before it leads to substantial health conditions.
How can overweight and obesity be reduced?
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 measures to avoid 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 a rare 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 and develop strategies for handling these situations and staying 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 a healthy-weight plan during the week, on weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays as much as possible increases chances of long-term success.
Obesity can happen for several reasons, including diet, a sedentary lifestyle, genetic factors, a health condition, or the use of certain medications. Some treatment options can help people to achieve and maintain a suitable weight.
Dec 28, 2020
HUNG M. DO, MD, Ph.D