Overview
Overweight and obesity are conditions characterized by excessive body fat that may impair health. The standard WHO definition of overweight is a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2, while obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or higher. In the Asian population, the International Obesity Task Force recommended the lower cut-offs of BMI ≥23 kg/m2 for overweight, and ≥25.0 kg/m2 for obese, according to the risk for type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
In 2019, an estimated 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal BMI. Many studies have established a relationship between obesity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, impaired bone health and reproduction, and an increased the risk of certain cancers. Obesity also affects sleeping or moving and therefore influences the quality of living.
Symptoms
The symptoms of overweight or obesity are the signs of excess body fat and its associated complications.
• Excessive body fat
• Increased waist circumference
• Breathlessness
• Increased sweating
• Sleep apnea
• Inability to cope with sudden physical activity
• Fatigue
• Back and joint pains
• Low self-esteem and confidence
Overweight and obesity are primarily caused by an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to obesogenic environments, psycho-social factors and genetic variants. Contributing factors may include:
• Genetics
• Poor diet and eating habits
• Physical inactivity
• Medical conditions (e.g., hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome)
• Certain medications
• Psychological factors
• Socioeconomic and environmental factors
Diagnosis
For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. However, BMI doesn't directly measure body fat. Some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obesity category even though they don't have excess body fat. Overweight and obesity are diagnosed through:
• Body mass index (BMI) calculation
• Waist circumference measurement
• Physical examination
• Blood tests to check for related conditions (e.g., diabetes, high cholesterol)
• Review of medical history and lifestyle factors.
Management and Treatment
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Being overweight can also lead to diabetes and its associated complications, including blindness and the need for dialysis. Carrying excess weight may result in musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis. Obesity is also associated with some cancers, including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney and colon.
Managing and treating overweight and obesity involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medical treatments, and possibly surgical interventions.
Lifestyle Changes; adopting a healthy, balanced diet, increasing physical activity and behavioral therapy
Medical Treatments; prescription of weight-loss medications; treatment for related health conditions; surgical Interventions such as Bariatric surgery
Prevention; maintaining a healthy diet rich in lean proteins, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits, engaging in regular physical activity, limiting intake of high-calorie foods and sugary beverages, monitoring weight regularly, getting adequate sleep and managing stress and encouraging healthy eating and activity habits in children from a young age.