What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. More specifically, it refers to having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is a measure of body fat calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
Some key things to know about obesity:
- Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of other diseases and health problems. It is a growing health epidemic in many parts of the world.
- Obesity happens over time when you consume more calories than you burn through activity and normal bodily functions. Your body stores these excess calories as body fat.
- Obesity can cause or worsen conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancers.
So how do you know if you are obese?
The most common method is through BMI screening. This involves:
- Weighing yourself and determining your weight in kilograms
- Measuring your height to determine meters squared
- Dividing your weight by your height squared
If your BMI is 30 or higher, you are considered obese. For example, if you weigh 90kg and are 1.75m tall, your BMI would be 29.4, meaning you are overweight but not yet obese.
What causes obesity?
- Genetics - Your genes can affect how your body stores and processes fat.
- Lifestyle - Not exercising enough and eating high-calorie foods can greatly increase your risk.
- Environment - Our abundant access to processed junk foods makes it easy to overeat.
- Health conditions - Some illnesses or medications can lead to weight gain.
The good news is obesity can often be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes. Small consistent changes like reducing process foods, exercising more, and getting enough sleep make a big difference over time.