What is Obesity?
Obesity is excessive accumulation of fat in the body resulting in health problems. Obesity is calculated with a measurement known as Body Mass Index (BMI). People with a BMI of 30 or greater are termed to be obese. People with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are termed to be overweight.
“By looking at food, I gain weight” is a general complaint raised by people who are obese. Others admit that they eat a lot. But the way the quantity of food affects body weight is just one reason that we know. Much thought has gone into finding the root causes of obesity and finally, scientists have come up with answers.
Expert opinions
William A. Banks, M.D., professor of geriatrics in the department of internal medicine and professor of pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, claims that he, along with a group of scientists, have discovered the precise reasons for obesity.
The scientists used mice to look at how leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells that tells us to stop eating, gets into the brain. They found that in obese mice, high triglycerides, a type of fat in the bloodstream, prevents leptin from getting into the brain, where it can do its work in turning off feeding and burning calories.
“High triglycerides are blocking the leptin from getting into the brain. If leptin can’t get into the brain, it can’t tell you to stop eating,” says Banks, who is the principal investigator and a staff physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis.
Other causes
Genetics: A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese. Genetics also affect hormones involved in fat regulation.
A diet high in simple carbohydrates: Carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels, which in turn stimulate insulin release by the pancreas, and insulin promotes the growth of fat tissue and can cause weight gain.
Slow metabolism: People with sedentary lifestyle burn fewer calories than people who are active. The National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that physical inactivity was strongly correlated with weight gain in both the sexes.
Medications: Medications associated with weight gain include certain antidepressants, anti-convulsants, diabetes medications etc. Weight gain may also be seen with some high blood pressure medications and antihistamines.
How Could Obesity be Prevented?
In spite of the factors such as genetics, hormones etc., obesity can be prevented by making lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes include making a change in your daily habits. Lifestyle changes are more likely to work for long-term instead of quick fixes such as diets or surgery. Here are a few lifestyle changes to prevent obesity:
- Eat healthy, avoid junk foods and always prefer eating food with fruits and vegetables
- Find ways to be active by walking, climbing the stairs, doing household chores etc.
- Incorporate exercise every day which can help you to lose fat faster. You can also try joining a gym
- Do not make food as your source of comfort or security. If you are depressed or lonely, find ways of overcoming it by speaking to a friend or involving yourself in a hobby
Latest Obesity Statistics in the United States 2009:
The government has declared Obesity a national epidemic along with Type 2 diabetes in 2009. Some statistics were available in a report released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in June. These statistics were:
- Two-thirds of American adults are obese.
- Obese children have 70 percent higher risk of developing obesity associated health complications.
- In 49 states, the adult obesity rate is higher than 20 percent.
- In 23 states, the rate is increasing at a faster rate and not even a single state has reported of decline in these rates from 2008.
- Childhood Obesity is highest in Mississippi (44.4 percent) between the age group of 10-17 years and is lowest in Minnesota and Utah (23.1 percent).
- Mississippi(32.5 percent), Alabama (31.2 percent), West Virginia (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent) are the four states with highest adult obesity.
