Obesity: Fatal Evil!

A beautiful body is always admired by everyone but Obesity can be like an ugly cloud which surrounds the beauty of every obese person. It is a major health hazard and more like a social evil. It seems more fatal than drinking or gambling.

There is no clear definition of obesity. In general a fat person is said to obese. However one is considered obese ONLY if he weighs at least 20 per cent more than his ideal body weight because of excessive accumulation of fat. Even ideal weight is difficult to define. Different sources give different definitions. Obesity may also lead to such diseases as varicose veins or DVT.

Currently, Body Mass Index (BMI) scale is the most common measurement of obesity. The BMI is based on the ratio of weight over height squared (kg/MxM). For example, a body with 55 Kg weight and height of 1.67 m will have the BMI 19.7(55/(1.67*1.67)).The BMI gives a broader range of weight that may be appropriate for a specific height. Now what should be the value of BMI for an ideal body?

A BMI of around 18.5 to 24.9 is considered to be within ideal body weight range. A BMI between 25 to 29.9 is somewhat at a health risk and a BMI above 30 is considered at significant health risk due to obesity. BMI is the most convenient and presently most widely understood measure of obesity risk.

The underlying causes of obesity are largely unknown. Generally excess eating habits are said to be the cause of obesity. But some controversy surrounds whether obesity is considered an “eating disorder. Excessive amount of caloric intake with low energy expenditure definitely can be the cause but it is not the only cause of obesity. Most obese people consumes less food but still they are obese is because of many other factors.

Obesity can be caused by a many other factors that are difficult to determine. It can be a hormonal disorder or there may be genetic, physiologic, biochemical, environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological conditions. It is important to recognize that being overweight is not simply a problem of will power as it is commonly assumed. The obese are a result of the stress, isolation and prejudice that are experienced from living in a fat-phobic society.

Every obese person knows that being obese is unhealthy and many dangers to body come with this evil. The way we look also affects many decisions in our lives. An obese person always has a kind of inferiority complex for him and thinks only the ugly part of his personality. These thoughts change one’s attitude and impact our decisions of life. It lowers self esteem and negative body image builds up in mind.

Obesity is linked to increased sickness and death rates. The physical risks to the obese have been described in terms of increased risks of hypertension, gall bladder disease, certain cancers, elevated levels of cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and some associative risks with conditions such as arthritis, gout, abnormal pulmonary function, and sleep apnea. However, increasingly there have been conflicting opinions about the health risks of being overweight.

The only way to cope up with this evil is to follow a healthy lifestyle. Timely exercise, timely food intake and a timely sleep with control on eating habit too can kill the evil.