| HEALTH BLOG |
When excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be
negatively affected the person is said to be suffering from obesity. There are
scientific guidelines which classify obesity. This classification helps to choose the
various modalities of treatment available. The commonest parameter is body mass
index. It is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of height in meters. Now how do
you calculate this? Suppose John's weight is 80 Kilograms and his height is 1.6
meters. Then multiply 1.6 by 1.6 (this will give square of height in meters), we get
2.56. Now divide 80 by 2.56 (This is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of
height in meters). The answer is 31.25. So John's BMI (body mass index) is 31.25.
There is a difference between being overweight and obese.
It is agreed upon that a combination of excessive calorie consumption and lack of
exercise causes obesity but in a minority of cases genetic, medical, or psychiatric
illness can be the cause. The easy availability of palatable diet, mechanization in
industry and availability of transportation are attributed to rise of its prevalence. A
person is said to be overweight when his body mass index is over 25 while he or
she is called obese if it is 30 or more.
Obesity invites certain physical and medical debilities like joint pains, particularly in
the knees; breathing problems during sleep; diabetes; heart disease; venous
thrombosis; liver disease; gall bladder stones; infertility; erectile problems; certain
cancers; depression; paralysis; hernia and social stigmatization.
Prevention of obesity is the frontrunner to erode the social epidemic of obesity.
Regular timings as well as quantity and quality of food; regular walking or stopping
the car in a parking a little away from your office; avoiding the elevators and taking
the steps may prove effective. Depression may lead to obesity as one tends to
become less active and eat more. Prevent or treat depression. If one is having a
body mass index near 25 it is recommended that he or she focuses on weight loss
and its techniques. The habit of being weight conscious is to be encouraged.
Diet and exercise is recommended as a treatment to the less obese. While both
yield result but they are difficult to practice, slow to get results, temporary in
outcome and have variable response. Thus medication is also recommended to
patients not desirably responding to diet and exercise. Medicines broadly either
reduce absorption of fat from the intestines or act on the brain to reduce appetite.
Weight loss is usually modest with medicines but the side effects which vary with
drugs include cramps, intestinal discomfort, diarrhea, increase in blood pressure,
palpitation, sleeplessness mood changes, drug tolerance and drug abuse.
As a broad guideline surgery is reserved for patients who are obese to the extent
that their body mass index is over 40. Now it is known that this treatment, called
Bariatric Surgery. is not a bed of roses. It has a wide variety of complications which
are too frequent to ignore. These start from as small as wound infection or nausea
and vomiting; but may also lead to gall bladder stones; leaks or narrowing from site
of intestinal suturing; hernia; breathlessness from lung embolization and even
death. A higher suicide rate is reported in some studies amongst patients who have
undergone surgery.
Thus treatment modalities include diet, exercise, medication and surgery.
Behavioral interventions are also advised so as to control affinity to overeating.
Unfortunately none is convenient for the patient. Prevention is better than cure but
if the disease has set in all efforts to get rid of it are required.
Manmohan Varma
Surgeon
Owner of Internet Utility Mall including Health Products
http://www.earnonnet.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manmohan_Varma
negatively affected the person is said to be suffering from obesity. There are
scientific guidelines which classify obesity. This classification helps to choose the
various modalities of treatment available. The commonest parameter is body mass
index. It is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of height in meters. Now how do
you calculate this? Suppose John's weight is 80 Kilograms and his height is 1.6
meters. Then multiply 1.6 by 1.6 (this will give square of height in meters), we get
2.56. Now divide 80 by 2.56 (This is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of
height in meters). The answer is 31.25. So John's BMI (body mass index) is 31.25.
There is a difference between being overweight and obese.
It is agreed upon that a combination of excessive calorie consumption and lack of
exercise causes obesity but in a minority of cases genetic, medical, or psychiatric
illness can be the cause. The easy availability of palatable diet, mechanization in
industry and availability of transportation are attributed to rise of its prevalence. A
person is said to be overweight when his body mass index is over 25 while he or
she is called obese if it is 30 or more.
Obesity invites certain physical and medical debilities like joint pains, particularly in
the knees; breathing problems during sleep; diabetes; heart disease; venous
thrombosis; liver disease; gall bladder stones; infertility; erectile problems; certain
cancers; depression; paralysis; hernia and social stigmatization.
Prevention of obesity is the frontrunner to erode the social epidemic of obesity.
Regular timings as well as quantity and quality of food; regular walking or stopping
the car in a parking a little away from your office; avoiding the elevators and taking
the steps may prove effective. Depression may lead to obesity as one tends to
become less active and eat more. Prevent or treat depression. If one is having a
body mass index near 25 it is recommended that he or she focuses on weight loss
and its techniques. The habit of being weight conscious is to be encouraged.
Diet and exercise is recommended as a treatment to the less obese. While both
yield result but they are difficult to practice, slow to get results, temporary in
outcome and have variable response. Thus medication is also recommended to
patients not desirably responding to diet and exercise. Medicines broadly either
reduce absorption of fat from the intestines or act on the brain to reduce appetite.
Weight loss is usually modest with medicines but the side effects which vary with
drugs include cramps, intestinal discomfort, diarrhea, increase in blood pressure,
palpitation, sleeplessness mood changes, drug tolerance and drug abuse.
As a broad guideline surgery is reserved for patients who are obese to the extent
that their body mass index is over 40. Now it is known that this treatment, called
Bariatric Surgery. is not a bed of roses. It has a wide variety of complications which
are too frequent to ignore. These start from as small as wound infection or nausea
and vomiting; but may also lead to gall bladder stones; leaks or narrowing from site
of intestinal suturing; hernia; breathlessness from lung embolization and even
death. A higher suicide rate is reported in some studies amongst patients who have
undergone surgery.
Thus treatment modalities include diet, exercise, medication and surgery.
Behavioral interventions are also advised so as to control affinity to overeating.
Unfortunately none is convenient for the patient. Prevention is better than cure but
if the disease has set in all efforts to get rid of it are required.
Manmohan Varma
Surgeon
Owner of Internet Utility Mall including Health Products
http://www.earnonnet.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manmohan_Varma
| Obesity - An Overview By Manmohan Varma http://ezinearticles.com/?id=1587024 |
| Childhood Obesity - What Parents Must Know By Manmohan Varma http://ezinearticles.com/?id=1643063 |
The speedily increasing incidence of obesity among children is one of the most
challenging dilemmas facing the society today. Obesity has become an epidemic
among children and adolescents in the United States, effecting about 17 percent of
them. Obesity increases the risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic
health problems. It also decreases the quality of life. Growing public awareness of
the magnitude and adverse health consequences of childhood obesity has led to
an array of efforts aimed at increasing physical activity as well as promoting
healthful eating.
As childhood obesity is a serious public health problem calling for immediate
reductions in obesity prevalence and in its health and social consequences,
parents need to understand this entity and how to address it without adversely
affecting the child's psychology. Parents are concerned or would soon get
concerned about the ideal weight that their child should have to remain healthy.
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Consistent with this, the "health-at-any size" approach is encouraged. This is
focused on health rather than weight. It focuses on the whole person, physically,
mentally, and socially. This approach shifts the emphasis to living actively; eating in
normal, healthful ways; respecting each individual; as well as health and wellbeing
for all at whatever size they may be. Health-at-any-size advocates support for
appropriate lifestyle and behavior changes to achieve these objectives.
This must clearly be understood that being overweight does not mean that he or
she is obese too and that there is a difference between being overweight and
obese. How do we decide whether an individual is overweight or obese? There are
scientific guidelines which decide this and classify obesity. The commonest
parameter is "body mass index" commonly known as "BMI". It is the ratio of weight
in kilograms to square of height in meters. Now how do you calculate this? Suppose
John's weight is 80 Kilograms and his height is 1.6 meters. Then multiply 1.6 by 1.6
(this will give square of height in meters), we get 2.56. Now divide 80 by 2.56 (This
is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of height in meters). The answer is
31.25. So John's BMI is 31.25. A person is said to be overweight when his body
mass index is over 25 while he or she is called obese if it is 30 or more. This
classification helps to choose the various modalities of treatment available for
obesity and also identifies simply overweight individuals who can adopt measures
to prevent their progression to obesity.
Height and weight measurements and BMI need to be considered as part of an
overall assessment and not as the single measurement for determining health
status. Use of this measure alone has resulted in inaccurate labeling of children.
Tables for BMI are based on assumptions that higher weight means higher body
fat. However, some children with higher body weights will not be over fat,
depending on physical activity, age, stage of puberty, gender, and ethnicity. For
example, a recent study shows that one in four children categorized as "at risk"
have normal body fat, and one in six in the normal weight range have high body fat.
Children grow and mature in different ways, and a child's weight for height or BMI
can best be evaluated in relation to his or her own growth history. Also, growth
spurts may be preceded by an increase in body fat. Thus an over ambitious
attempt to impose BMI standards on children in a blanket manner may interfere with
normal growth of many.
Parents have a large role to play. Diet pattern and physical activities of children are
to be focused upon. They should be aware that eating slowly helps children to
recognize when they are full, so encourage slow eating. Planned and low-fat
snacks which are portion-controlled can help keep kids remain satisfied between
meals and stay away from overeating; thus snacks must be planned. Allocation of
specific areas for eating and that too on a table is essential but it should not be in a
room with a television. Children should focus on meals while eating rather than
becoming unaware whether they are full while watching the television. A particular
type of food like candy or cookies should not be abandoned and let everyone in
the family enjoy them in moderation. Be aware of what is served at school or pack a
nutritious lunch for your child. Have a dinner with the whole family as regularly as
possible. Use this time to enjoy your meal and learn about your child's activities
that day. Unless your doctor recommends it, do not put your child on a restrictive
diet. Children have specific nutritional needs, so limiting what your child eats can
interfere with healthy growth and development.
It should also be understood that when you are physically active, your child is more
likely to be physically active. Find activities that you are comfortable participating in
and have your child join you. When your children get praise and positive feedback
while they are being active, they are much more likely to keep going with the
activity, thus, applaud your children whenever they engage in any sort of physical
activity. Be a proud parent, show enthusiasm and give appropriate rewards for
engagements in physical activities. Mention your child's successes to your friends
while your child is around. A step further, get together with neighbors and start a
regular group activity plan for all the children on your street. If you see an
opportunity for starting a new activity in the community, volunteer to help.
Last but not the least stigmatization of an obese or overweight child either at home
or at school brings about loss of self esteem, depression and compensation
through satiety of overeating. It leads also to a perception that the child is doomed
to his or her fate and efforts to loose weight are not destined to bring about
positive results. Thus encouragement and appreciation of the children's overall
capabilities, behavior and personality, may encourage them to approach correction
of obesity more positively. Parents should propose to the schools that acceptance
and respect for oneself along with others can be effectively addressed as part of
the overall school policy on acquiescence of diversity. Refusal to tolerate teasing
or harassment of or by students or staff should become a strategy. Obesity
prevention programs need to be periodically assessed by appropriate
professionals to ensure that they do not create unintentional stigmatization or
promote dangerous eating and exercise behaviors. All aspects of the measures
required to control obesity are to be exercised in a comprehensive manner to meet
the advancing menace of this draconian problem - an obese society.
Manmohan Varma
Surgeon
Owner of Internet Utility Mall including Health Products
http://www.earnonnet.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manmohan_Varma
challenging dilemmas facing the society today. Obesity has become an epidemic
among children and adolescents in the United States, effecting about 17 percent of
them. Obesity increases the risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic
health problems. It also decreases the quality of life. Growing public awareness of
the magnitude and adverse health consequences of childhood obesity has led to
an array of efforts aimed at increasing physical activity as well as promoting
healthful eating.
As childhood obesity is a serious public health problem calling for immediate
reductions in obesity prevalence and in its health and social consequences,
parents need to understand this entity and how to address it without adversely
affecting the child's psychology. Parents are concerned or would soon get
concerned about the ideal weight that their child should have to remain healthy.
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Consistent with this, the "health-at-any size" approach is encouraged. This is
focused on health rather than weight. It focuses on the whole person, physically,
mentally, and socially. This approach shifts the emphasis to living actively; eating in
normal, healthful ways; respecting each individual; as well as health and wellbeing
for all at whatever size they may be. Health-at-any-size advocates support for
appropriate lifestyle and behavior changes to achieve these objectives.
This must clearly be understood that being overweight does not mean that he or
she is obese too and that there is a difference between being overweight and
obese. How do we decide whether an individual is overweight or obese? There are
scientific guidelines which decide this and classify obesity. The commonest
parameter is "body mass index" commonly known as "BMI". It is the ratio of weight
in kilograms to square of height in meters. Now how do you calculate this? Suppose
John's weight is 80 Kilograms and his height is 1.6 meters. Then multiply 1.6 by 1.6
(this will give square of height in meters), we get 2.56. Now divide 80 by 2.56 (This
is the ratio of weight in kilograms to square of height in meters). The answer is
31.25. So John's BMI is 31.25. A person is said to be overweight when his body
mass index is over 25 while he or she is called obese if it is 30 or more. This
classification helps to choose the various modalities of treatment available for
obesity and also identifies simply overweight individuals who can adopt measures
to prevent their progression to obesity.
Height and weight measurements and BMI need to be considered as part of an
overall assessment and not as the single measurement for determining health
status. Use of this measure alone has resulted in inaccurate labeling of children.
Tables for BMI are based on assumptions that higher weight means higher body
fat. However, some children with higher body weights will not be over fat,
depending on physical activity, age, stage of puberty, gender, and ethnicity. For
example, a recent study shows that one in four children categorized as "at risk"
have normal body fat, and one in six in the normal weight range have high body fat.
Children grow and mature in different ways, and a child's weight for height or BMI
can best be evaluated in relation to his or her own growth history. Also, growth
spurts may be preceded by an increase in body fat. Thus an over ambitious
attempt to impose BMI standards on children in a blanket manner may interfere with
normal growth of many.
Parents have a large role to play. Diet pattern and physical activities of children are
to be focused upon. They should be aware that eating slowly helps children to
recognize when they are full, so encourage slow eating. Planned and low-fat
snacks which are portion-controlled can help keep kids remain satisfied between
meals and stay away from overeating; thus snacks must be planned. Allocation of
specific areas for eating and that too on a table is essential but it should not be in a
room with a television. Children should focus on meals while eating rather than
becoming unaware whether they are full while watching the television. A particular
type of food like candy or cookies should not be abandoned and let everyone in
the family enjoy them in moderation. Be aware of what is served at school or pack a
nutritious lunch for your child. Have a dinner with the whole family as regularly as
possible. Use this time to enjoy your meal and learn about your child's activities
that day. Unless your doctor recommends it, do not put your child on a restrictive
diet. Children have specific nutritional needs, so limiting what your child eats can
interfere with healthy growth and development.
It should also be understood that when you are physically active, your child is more
likely to be physically active. Find activities that you are comfortable participating in
and have your child join you. When your children get praise and positive feedback
while they are being active, they are much more likely to keep going with the
activity, thus, applaud your children whenever they engage in any sort of physical
activity. Be a proud parent, show enthusiasm and give appropriate rewards for
engagements in physical activities. Mention your child's successes to your friends
while your child is around. A step further, get together with neighbors and start a
regular group activity plan for all the children on your street. If you see an
opportunity for starting a new activity in the community, volunteer to help.
Last but not the least stigmatization of an obese or overweight child either at home
or at school brings about loss of self esteem, depression and compensation
through satiety of overeating. It leads also to a perception that the child is doomed
to his or her fate and efforts to loose weight are not destined to bring about
positive results. Thus encouragement and appreciation of the children's overall
capabilities, behavior and personality, may encourage them to approach correction
of obesity more positively. Parents should propose to the schools that acceptance
and respect for oneself along with others can be effectively addressed as part of
the overall school policy on acquiescence of diversity. Refusal to tolerate teasing
or harassment of or by students or staff should become a strategy. Obesity
prevention programs need to be periodically assessed by appropriate
professionals to ensure that they do not create unintentional stigmatization or
promote dangerous eating and exercise behaviors. All aspects of the measures
required to control obesity are to be exercised in a comprehensive manner to meet
the advancing menace of this draconian problem - an obese society.
Manmohan Varma
Surgeon
Owner of Internet Utility Mall including Health Products
http://www.earnonnet.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manmohan_Varma