Weight Loss And Weight Management Information

Part 1 of 9 - What is Obesity?

How you define obesity depends pretty much on what you read, but in general, it is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount body fat. You need a certain amount of body fat 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.

Just how much of a problem is obesity?

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Nearly a third 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 are some of the dangers of being obese?

Being obese isn't just being 'fat' - it's also being at risk for early death In the United States, More than 300,000 patient deaths are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a Body Mass Index, or BMI, over 30. Obesity also increases the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases including:

- Pre-Diabetes - Insulin Resistance. You need insulin to help your body utilize blood glucose(sugar), (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 the condition of the effectiveness oftransporting of insulin in directing glucose (sugar) into cells is diminished. Fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells; Obesity is known to be the major cause of IR. The pancreas first tries 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 condition (IR) is recognized by normal blood glucose levels and high insulin levels) and can last for 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). Hypertension is common among obese adults. A recent study found that women who gained weight tended to develop hypertension more significanlty than men. The risk of developing high blood pressure is also higher in obese people who are apple shaped (central obesity) than in people who are pear shaped (fat .

- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

- Stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA)

- Heart attack. An important study just recently releasedfound that the risk of developing coronary artery disease increased 3 to 4 times in women who had a BMI greater than 29. International studies also conclude 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. While not conclusively proven, some some studies directly link obesity tocancer of the colon in men and women, cancer of the rectum and prostate in men, and cancer of the gallbladder and uterus in women. Beast cancer has been found to also be associated with obesity, 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

- Degenerative Arthihritis of the knees, hips, and the lower back

- Sleep apnea

- Pickwickian syndrome (obesity, red face, under-ventilation, and drowsiness)

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