Obesity Facts and Diagnosis

A simple definition of obesity is an individual who has an excess amount of body fat. Doctors prefer to see a body fat percentage in men ranging from 18 to 23 per cent and between 25 and 35 per cent in women.

Obesity is different than being overweight since your overall body weight is partly due to muscles, bones and water contained in the body. A person becomes obese when they take in more calories than they use up over a period of time. Important elements contributing to a person's obesity are overeating; eating foods that contain a high fat content and not getting enough exercise. People that are obese are at an increased risk for health problems.

Obesity Diagnosis

Most physicians utilize the body mass index (BMI) in order to decide if a person is technically obese and therefore at risk for obesity related health problems. The facts of obesity suggest the higher the number on the BMI chart the higher your risk for acquiring diseases due to obesity. The BMI number is derived from a calculation based on your height and weight. Most physicians will also take a measurement of your waistline which gives them additional information in diagnosing if you are obese or overweight.

The facts of obesity indicate that patients are at a greater risk for heart disease and also type 2 diabetes if they carry too much fat in the stomach area and the waistline. Men who have a waist line over 40 inches and women with a waistline over 35 inches have an even higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity Facts Concerning Heart Disease

When fatty substances build up over time on the walls of the coronary arteries heart disease is usually the result. The plaque produces a narrowing of your arteries which causes a reduction in the flow of blood to the heart.

The Obesity Facts of Health Risks

The facts of obesity indicate that people who are considered obese usually have a higher risk of having high blood pressure due to the amount of force that is created by the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Obese people are at a higher risk of having a stroke which occurs due to fatty substances clogging a person's arteries and creating a blood clot. If the blood clot is near your brain it can easily prevent blood and oxygen from reaching your brain which can result in a stroke.

Obese people typically have a higher than normal level of fat in their blood which also increases the risk of heart disease. Obesity also increases the risk of obtaining colon, endometrial, breast and gallbladder cancer. Osteoarthritis is also common in obese people especially as they become older. If you think you might be obese consult with your physician and get the facts on obesity.

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