OBESITY: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND MANAGEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE – – – – – – – – – i
CERTIFICATION – – – – – – – ii
DEDICATION – – – – – – – – iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS – – – – – – iv
TABLE OF CONTENT S – – – – – – v-vi
INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – 1
CLASSIFICATION OF OBESITY – – – – 3
Effects of Obesity on Health – – – – – – 4
Mortality – – – – – – – – – 4
Morbidity – – – – – – – – – 5
Survival Paradox – – – – – – – – 6
Pathophysiology – – – – – – – – 7
Epidemiology of Obesity – – – – – – 8
History of Obesity – – – – – – – 9
Etymology – – – – – – – – – 9
Historical Attitudes – – – – – – – 9
Society and Culture – – – – – – – 11
Economic Impact of Obesity – – – – – – 11
Size Acceptance – – – – – – – – 13
Childhood Obesity – – – – – – – 14
CAUSES OF OBESITY – – – – – – 16
Diet – – – – – – – – – – 16
Sedentary Lifestyle – – – – – – – 18
Genetics – – – – – – – – – 19
Social Determinants – – – – – – – 20
Gut Bacteria – – – – – – – – 22
Age – – – – – – – – – – 23
Pregnancy – – – – – – – – – 23
Quitting Smoking – – – – – – – – 23
Other illness – – – – – – – – 24
Conditions Associated Obesity – – – – – 25
Symptoms of Obesity – – – – – – – 25
Psychological Problems – – – – – – – 26
Management of Obesity – – – – – – – 26
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Summary – – – – – – – – – 29
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 30
References
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that it may have a negative effect on health. People are generally considered obesed when their body mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person’s weight by the square of the person’s height, is over 30 kg/m2; the range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and depression (Haslam and James, 2005).
Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility. A few cases are caused primarily by genes, endocrine disorders, medications, or mental disorder (Bleich et al., 2008). The view that obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is not medically supported. On average, obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their normal counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass (Kushner, 2007).
Obesity is mostly preventable through a combination of social changes and personal choices. Changes to diet and exercising are the main treatments. Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such as those high in fat or sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber. Medications can be used, along with a suitable diet, to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption. If diet, exercise, and medication are not effective, a gastric balloon or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume or length of the intestines, leading to feeling full earlier or a reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food (Imaz et al., 2008).
Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and children. In 2015, 600 million adults (12%) and 100 million children were obese in 195 countries. Obesity is more common in women than men. Authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity is stigmatized in much of the modern world (particularly in the Western world), though it was seen as a symbol of wealth and fertility at other times in history and still is in some parts of the world. In 2013, several medical societies, including the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association, classified obesity as a disease.
