It seems that obesity is the number one modern disease as we are always hearing about it in the media, but has it really been around for decades without us being aware of it. I remember as a child in the 40s and 50s that older people were always well covered with body weight and were often very round indeed, and even some children suffered from the same infliction. These situations were just accepted as 'life.' I suppose the difference now is life expectancy is greater than the average 60 or 70 something years of the earlier days, and we have also become more educated as to the health problems which occur through obesity. Other factors also enter the equation now such as an easier lifestyle with technological aids to cut down work, the familiarisation with the car and entertainment which requires little or no movement on our part.
Education on nutrition, food intake and guidelines on calorie requirements for healthy living are widely available but appear to have done little to address the problem. Are we really all so arrogant that we are prepared to play Russian Roulette with our lives, or are we simply confused? For example, I have a very dear life-long friend who has always been conscientious about eating and exercising correctly. She is now in her middle age and is suffering from the overweight problem. She is around 5 feet 8 inches tall, has always had a robust frame and wide waist even when she was slim, and has increased from 11 stone in her 20s to 14 stone now. According to the medical tables she is very overweight or obese and yet the medical tables do not appear to take into consideration that she has had 4 children, is very strong and to look at she is not carrying enormous amounts of extra body weight. She worked hard in the gym exercising for 2 years and never lost a pound, has dieted carefully and walks at a pace regularly to make the heart beat, but she still cannot lose the weight. Her doctor admits she is doing everything right and does not seem to know how to remove the excess body weight. There are no problems with glands or body organs not functioning properly and all relative tests have been done and come back as negative. No wonder she is confused and does not know what to do next, and how many other people are out there struggling in the same way?
There is no doubt about it that affluence and the availability of a massive variety of food play a great part in us being tempted to eat too much too often. It is far too easy to over indulge ourselves these days and it needs a lot of self-discipline to avoid the temptations placed before us. But here are a few facts which may help as a deterrent since the onus lies on each individual's shoulders to avoid the obesity disease.
So what does being obese actually mean? It is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent it has an adverse effect on health. It is a leading preventable cause of death and is increasing. Malnutrition or poor diet in early life is believed to play a part in the rising rates of obesity as endocrinal changes occur during periods of poor diet, which promote storage of body fat once more food is eaten. In some parts of the world being obese is seen as a sign of wealth and fertility although in other parts it carries a stigma. It is caused by a combination of consuming excessive dietary calories and a lack of exercise. In western society it seems that most of the extra calories are taken in through carbohydrate foods rather than fats, and much of these by drinking sweetened beverages and drinks and fast food. On average obese people expend more energy than others because so much energy is required to maintain a larger body mass, which results in more and more food being eaten to stop the feelings of hunger. Obesity may also be a genetic susceptibility, although this is rare, and in some cases it can be caused by endocrinal disorders, medications or psychiatric illness. Few people gain weight through an underactive thyroid or slow metabolism.
So if you cannot move around easily, bend down without gasping for breath and you get tired doing simple jobs needing to rest regularly, then you probably have a big problem. The doctors will tell you to watch your waist, and recommend that for the average man a healthy waist should be up to 40" (102cm) and for a woman up to 35" (88cm). You may be told that you are at risk if the waist measurement exceeds these numbers, but it must be remembered that other factors such as age, genetic build, occupation and having children for women may possibly affect the outcome. 'Remember my friend I mentioned at the beginning of my article? Even when she was young and slim carrying no excess body weight at all, her waist measurement was 34". So when she had had her four children, experiencing the stretched skin syndrome of pregnancy which never really returns fully to the original shape, she automatically exceeded the recommended measurement although she was perfectly fit and healthy. Interestingly a study was carried out recently where a group of ultra-fit men were measured for BMI and according to the medical charts every one of them was grossly obese, although it was medically proven that they were totally healthy in every way.
Obviously if the waist becomes vastly larger than the chest or hip area then something needs to be corrected, but it is important not to be too precise and to consider all factors. Your doctor will measure your BMI (body mass index) to discover whether you are obese or not, but again it is wise to regard age and build in the results. As we get older we automatically increase in excess body weight due to a more sedentary lifestyle and the body changes shape. It is vital not to let the increase get out of control by exercising daily and eating less, eating more wholesome foods which are not easily absorbed into the body such as fruit and vegetables and whole-wheat products, but still maintaining a healthy diet. To find out your BMI do the following:-
- Multiply your height number in metres by itself. That gives your height squared.
- Find out your weight in kilograms and divide that number by your height squared.
- The final number is your BMI.
So apart from the discomfort of being obese what is all the fuss about you may ask. For the state, the cost of dealing with the resulting problems is enormous. For the individual obesity may lead to a reduced life expectancy or other health problems for example: - heart disease or angina, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing difficulties, abnormal cholesterol levels, vein problems, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis. Now if that isn't enough to act as a deterrent let me give more detail on some further problems of this horrible disease and how it affects different parts of the body.
Cardiology - the heart. Usually angina.
Endocrine glands - hormones. Diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual disorders, infertility, pregnancy complications, birth defects and still birth.
Neurology - the brain and nervous system. Stroke, migraines, dementia, intracranial hypertension and multiple sclerosis.
Psychiatry - emotional and mental disorders. Depression in women and social stigmatization.
Dermatology - skin disorders. Stretch marks, lymphedema (lymph gland disorders), cellulitis, hirsutism (superfluous facial and body hair in women) and intertrigo (chafing of the skin between the thighs and armpits).
Gastrointestinal - Digestive tract disorders, fatty liver disease and gallstones.
Oncology - cancers. Breast, ovarian, oesophageal, colon, liver, pancreatic, gall bladder, stomach, endometrial, cervical, prostate, kidney, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer).
Respiratory - Obstructive sleep apnoea, obesity, hypoventilation syndrome, asthma and increased complications during anaesthesia.
If you are one of the people who are discovered to have obesity, what can you do about it? First and foremost check your diet. Increase your activity and walk as much as possible making your heart rate increase enough to make you sweat a little. You may also need to diet, but it may be wise to do all of this with your doctor's guidance. Weight loss programs provide confidence, encouragement and lifestyle changes.
In extreme cases surgery may be necessary but this carries risks of its own and should only be done as a very last resort. However the best solution is not to allow yourself to become obese in the first place. Be aware at an early stage that weight increase is happening and take control and avoid the horrors of this dreadful disease called obesity.
It would seem that modern day society has also transferred this terrible complaint and the desire to eat too much to our treasured pets. It is found that so many dogs, cats and even rabbits are suffering from overweight and the affects of obesity. By our over enthusiasm to give our pets the very best in meals, we are inflicting them with the prospects of an early death, so it is imperative that everyone gets to grips with this situation and takes responsible action to avoid a future catastrophe.
