Obesity, Diets And Weight Loss
Part 1 of 9 - What is Obesity?
The definition of obesity varies depending on what one reads, but in general, it is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount body fat. In order to function properly your body requires a certain amoun of fat in the body for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese.
How common is obesity?
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Over 30% of all Americans are considered 'obese'. Obesity is also increasing rapidly throughout the world, and the incidence of obesity has nearly doubled form 1991 to 1998.
What risks are associated with obesity?
Obesity is not just a cosmetic consideration; it is a dire health dilemma directly In the United States, roughly 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI or Body Mass Index, over 30%. For most obese people, they are putting themselves at risk for suffering MAJOR chronic disease, such as:
- Insulin Resistance - (Pre-diabetes). Insulin is necessary for the transport of blood glucose (sugar) into the cells of muscle and fat, (which is then used for energy). By moving glucose into cells, insulin keeps the blood glucose levels in the normal range. Insulin resistance (IR) is what happens when thesending of insulin in directing glucose (sugar) into cells is diminished. Fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells; IR occurs most commonly in people that are considered obese. The pancreas initially responds to IR by producing more insulin. As long as the pancreas can produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, blood glucose levels remain normal. This IR state (characterized by normal blood glucose levels and high insulin levels) can last years. Once the pancreas 'burns out' and can't keep up with producing higher levels of insulin, blood glucose levels begin to rise, resulting in type 2 diabetes, thus IR is a pre-diabetes condition. In fact scientists now believe that the atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) associated with diabetes likely develops during this IR period.
- Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with the degree and duration of obesity. . Type 2 diabetes is associated with central obesity; a person with central obesity has excess fat around his/her waist, so that the body is shaped like an apple.
- High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the most common condition found among the obese. It has now been shown in studies that overweight women are more likely to suffer from the effects of hypertension than overweight men. The risk of developing high blood pressure is also higher in obese people who are 'apple' shaped - gut fat - rather than those who are 'pear' shaped - hips and leg fat.
- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- Stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA)
- Heart attack. according to most recent studiesfound that the risk of developing coronary artery disease increased in women with a BMI of 29 or higher by almost 400%. Findings from these same studies have found that for every one kilogram (2.2 pounds) increase in body weight, the risk of death from coronary artery disease increased by one percent. You should know that if you are obese and have already had one heart attack, obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of a second heart attack.
- Congestive heart failure
- Cancer. The jury is still out on this one, but, some observational studies have linked obesity to cancer of the colon in men and women, cancer of the rectum and prostate in men, and cancer of the gallbladder and uterus in women. Obesity may also be associated with breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. Fat tissue is important in the production of estrogen, and prolonged exposure to high levels of estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Gallstones
- Gout and gouty arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) of the knees, hips, and the lower back
- Sleep apnea
- Obesity, red face, difficulty breathing and drowsiness - Pickwickian Syndrome
Learn more by visiting http://offto.net/WeightLossProgramReview
The definition of obesity varies depending on what one reads, but in general, it is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount body fat. In order to function properly your body requires a certain amoun of fat in the body for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese.
How common is obesity?
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Over 30% of all Americans are considered 'obese'. Obesity is also increasing rapidly throughout the world, and the incidence of obesity has nearly doubled form 1991 to 1998.
What risks are associated with obesity?
Obesity is not just a cosmetic consideration; it is a dire health dilemma directly In the United States, roughly 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI or Body Mass Index, over 30%. For most obese people, they are putting themselves at risk for suffering MAJOR chronic disease, such as:
- Insulin Resistance - (Pre-diabetes). Insulin is necessary for the transport of blood glucose (sugar) into the cells of muscle and fat, (which is then used for energy). By moving glucose into cells, insulin keeps the blood glucose levels in the normal range. Insulin resistance (IR) is what happens when thesending of insulin in directing glucose (sugar) into cells is diminished. Fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells; IR occurs most commonly in people that are considered obese. The pancreas initially responds to IR by producing more insulin. As long as the pancreas can produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, blood glucose levels remain normal. This IR state (characterized by normal blood glucose levels and high insulin levels) can last years. Once the pancreas 'burns out' and can't keep up with producing higher levels of insulin, blood glucose levels begin to rise, resulting in type 2 diabetes, thus IR is a pre-diabetes condition. In fact scientists now believe that the atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) associated with diabetes likely develops during this IR period.
- Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with the degree and duration of obesity. . Type 2 diabetes is associated with central obesity; a person with central obesity has excess fat around his/her waist, so that the body is shaped like an apple.
- High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the most common condition found among the obese. It has now been shown in studies that overweight women are more likely to suffer from the effects of hypertension than overweight men. The risk of developing high blood pressure is also higher in obese people who are 'apple' shaped - gut fat - rather than those who are 'pear' shaped - hips and leg fat.
- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- Stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA)
- Heart attack. according to most recent studiesfound that the risk of developing coronary artery disease increased in women with a BMI of 29 or higher by almost 400%. Findings from these same studies have found that for every one kilogram (2.2 pounds) increase in body weight, the risk of death from coronary artery disease increased by one percent. You should know that if you are obese and have already had one heart attack, obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of a second heart attack.
- Congestive heart failure
- Cancer. The jury is still out on this one, but, some observational studies have linked obesity to cancer of the colon in men and women, cancer of the rectum and prostate in men, and cancer of the gallbladder and uterus in women. Obesity may also be associated with breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. Fat tissue is important in the production of estrogen, and prolonged exposure to high levels of estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Gallstones
- Gout and gouty arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) of the knees, hips, and the lower back
- Sleep apnea
- Obesity, red face, difficulty breathing and drowsiness - Pickwickian Syndrome
Learn more by visiting http://offto.net/WeightLossProgramReview
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