What is Obesity?
It is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health.
Causes:
It is generally caused by eating too many calories and moving too little.
Overconsumption of calories compared to energy expenditure.
Poor diet and a lack of physical activity.
Progression:
It develops gradually over time, no one becomes obese overnight.
It is a result of continuous decisions of poor diet and lifestyle choices.
Associated risk factors:
Heart disease and stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Some cancers
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Clinical Signs and Symptoms:
Signs include:
Increase in weight
Excess body fat
BMI of 30+
Symptoms include:
Difficulty sleeping
Back or joint pains
Excessive sweating
Intolerance to heat
Infections in skin folds
Fatigue
Depression
Impact on lifestyle:
Poor mental health
Reduced quality of life
Daily tasks become harder
Random daily pains and aches
Benefits of exercise:
Increased total energy expenditure
Reduced excess fat
Improved mental health
Helps protect against chronic disease
Lowers blood pressure
Lowers risk of heart attack
Reduced anxiety and depression
Exercise Guidelines:
Adults should aim to do:
Strengthening activities that work major muscle groups
At least 150 min of moderate intensity exercise a week or 75 mins of vigorous activity
Spread exercise evenly over 4 to 5 days a week
Reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up periods of non activity
Nutritional Guidelines:
5 food groups
40% fruit and veg
38% carbohydrates
12% protein
8% dairy
1% oils and spreads
Aim for 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day.
Try to choose lower fat and lower sugar products where possible.
We are seeing an increase year on year of people being/becoming obese, identifying this and putting steps in place to counter it is the start of your journey to a better and healthier life.