Obesity

Introduction

Obesity is defined as the pathological consequence of excessive cumulative mule fat, resulting in turn from a positive energy balance. The main difficulties in assessing the magnitude of excess weight the different criteria for graduation, which is reflected in the various work and studies. It constitutes a major health problem, due to high frequency and its role as a risk factor for many diseases. In general, a key issue for epidemiological studies is the case definition criteria and procedures for validation and standardization, especially when comparing results with other studies using similar methodology. Obesity is a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat, usually because of poor diets and a sedentary lifestyle.

Food and physical activity behaviors are strongly influenced by social, economic and cultural. Dispelling a common place fairly widespread, obesity is not a problem of the rich, or at least not all the most disadvantaged population groups in terms of socioeconomic tend to consume more meat, fats and carbohydrates, rather than fruit and vegetables, and treat at least their image and physical fitness. On the psychological level, obesity can completely disrupt the life of a person who is obese; they are often isolated and subjected to a real social stigma, which makes it difficult in any kind of socializing. In particular, overweight children tend to develop an uneasy relationship with their bodies and with their peers, resulting in isolation, which often translates into more sedentary habits (Schneider, 262).

Main Body

Obesity means having an excess of total body fat. In the past a woman was considered obese if she weighed at least 20 percent more than her ideal weight. It is quite possible, however, for a person to exceed the ideal weight for her height and still not have excess body fat if the weight of her bones and muscles is unusually high. In general, however, people who are significantly overweight also tend to be obese, which explains why the two terms are frequently used interchangeably (Moon & Gould, 87).

Risk of health problems associated with obesity

BMI Index

Risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, some cancers, and early death

Under 19 (underweight)

Some risk

19 to 26 (normal)

Very low risk

26 to 27 (marginally overweight)

Some risk

27 to 32 (overweight)

Moderate risk

32 to 45 (severe overweight)

High risk

Over 45 (morbid obesity)

Very high risk

In the United States 27 percent of women and 24 percent of men between the ages of 20 and 74 weigh more than they should, according to standard height-weight charts (see weight tables). But as many as 40 percent of all American women claim to be “dieting” or actively engaged in some kind of weight control program. Study after study seems to confirm that the vast majority of them will fail in their efforts (necessary or not) to lose weight over the long haul (Bailey, Vardulaki, Langham & Chandramohan, 34).

Who is likely to be obese?

Obesity occurs when a person takes in more energy (in the form of food) than she uses up (by burning calories during physical activity); the excess energy gets stored as ...