OBESITY

A certain amount of body fat is important to everyone. The body uses fat for shock absorption, heat insulation, stored energy, and other functions. Women normally have more fat then men. Obesity is defined as having an abnormally high amount of body fat. Women with 30 percent or more body fat of their total body weight are considered obese. Obese men have 25 percent or more total body fat.

Obesity is a serious health hazard and a cosmetic problem. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, a person 40 percent overweight, after being obese 10 to 30 years, is 2 times more likely to die prematurely as an average-weight person. Obese people are at risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, gout, sleep apnea, and other breathing problems.

Obesity tends to be related to genetic factors as well as diet and lifestyle habits. Not enough exercise and what a person eats are key factors to becoming obese. Binge eating is reported in 10 percent of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems. Some illnesses, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, and depression, can also cause obesity.

The most accurate way of measuring body fat is to weigh a person under water using sophisticated equipment. Simpler testing methods include measuring skinfold thickness with special calipers and having a bioelectric impedance analysis, which sends a harmless electric current through the body. Health clubs and commercial weight loss programs may offer one or more of these body fat testing methods.

Many versions of weight-for-height tables offer a range of acceptable weights based on height. Many healthcare providers disagree on which is the best table to use. Researchers, who study obesity, commonly use the body mass index, or BMI. The BMI measurement formula has the same problem as the weight-for-height tables, because there is disagreement on the cutoff points for "healthy" versus "unhealthy" BMI ranges. Body fat percentages are not provided in the BMI measurement.

Fat carried around the waist and in the abdominal area, characterized by the "apple shape," is associated with an increased risk for health problems related to obesity. Men usually become apple-shaped as they gain fat around their bellies. Women are usually "pear" shaped where fat is carried in their hips and buttocks; however, after menopause, they may become apple-shaped.

Obese people should be evaluated for medical consequences of their obesity. Motivated persons are encouraged to enter medically supervised treatment programs. Such programs use low calorie diets, behavior modification to change eating behavior, aerobic exercise, and social support.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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