Obesity
Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30. Some investigators have used the terms overweight, obese, and morbidly obese to refer to children and adolescents whose weights exceed those expected for heights by 20%, 50%, and 80-100%, respectively. The body mass index (BMI) has not been consistently used in children younger than2 years. Because weight varies in a continuous rather than a stepwise fashion, the use of these arbitrary criteria is problematic and may be misleading. Nevertheless, children and adolescents defined as overweight or obese according to published criteria are highly likely to maintain this status as adults.
Obesity tends to run in families. Some people have a genetic tendency to gain weight more easily than others because they burn calories more slowly. During times when food was scarce, this was a real advantage. Compared with people in the healthy weight category, those who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain cancers. Obesity is one of the principal risk factors for type 2 diabetes. An excess of body fat, especially when concentrated within the abdomen, has a range of potentially harmful consequences. Classified as a disease, obesity diminishes both quality of life and life expectancy.
The primary goal in treating obesity is to reduce overall body weight and maintain the lower weight. This usually involves a combination of diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications, but the specific method of treatment depends on the severity of obesity. Factors such as general health and motivation to lose weight are also important considerations. Medications may be prescribed in addition to an exercise program and a low-calorie diet. Some herbs and supplements such as 5-HTP, fiber, and green tea may aid in weight loss and help alleviate the complications of obesity. Acupuncture may also have beneficial effects on weight loss, as can Ayurvedic medicines.
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June 28th, 2008 at 8:55 am
There are many ways available these days to get rid of extra fats. It is up to every individual to choose a good one. Healthy and natural weight loss is the best. The sum of balanced diet, Physical exercise and lots of water really gives better results. Out of all these, dedication and patience is required to get good results…