OBESITY

Obesity and overweight

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health.

Causes

Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance of diet and physical activity. In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to obesogenic environments, psycho-social factors, genetic variants, medications, diseases, immobilization, iatrogenic procedures, monogenic disease and genetic syndrome. At the same time, the lack of an effective health system response to identify excess weight gain and fat deposition in their early stages is aggravating the progression to obesity. Excessive body fat increases the risk of serious health problems.

Symptoms

There are no specific symptoms associated with obesity. A doctor may diagnose obesity based on factors:- (1)Excess amounts of abdominal (visceral) fat that are higher than the amounts of body fat in other areas.(2) A waist circumference of greater than40 inches for men or 35 inches for women.(3) A BMI over 30.

Who is at risk of obesity?

A complex mix of factors can increase a person’s risk of obesity.

Genetics

Some people have genes that make it more likely for them to gain weight and body fat.

Environment and community

Your environment at home, at school, and in your community can all influence how and what you eat, as well as how active you are.

Psychological and other factors

Depression can sometimes lead to weight gain, as some people may turn to food for emotional comfort.

Having disturbed sleeping patterns during the day, especially foods high in fat and carbohydrates.

If you smoke,quitting smoking is beneficial to your health, but quitting may lead to weight gain too. In some people, it may lead to weight gain.

Medications

Certain medications can also raise your risk of weight gain. These medications can include: corticosteroids, antidepressants, beta-blocker which may treat high blood pressure.

Complications 

Researchers have linked obesity to many health complication, some of which can be life threatening if not treated:- type 2diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stoke, gall bladder disease, fatty liver disease, high cholesterole, arthritis, infertility, certain cancers (breast, colon ,and endomerial) breathing problems.

How is obesity treated?

If you have obesity and would like to lose weight but have been unable to do so on your own, medical help is available. Start with a primary care physician, who may be able to refer you to a weight specialist in your area.

A doctor may also want to work with you as dietitian, therapist, or other healthcare staff, they may recommend medications in unani /herbal and modern science  or weight loss therapy.  At Global Poly Clinic, we offer a comprehensive approach combining modern medicine, Unani, and herbal treatments to address the underlying causes and improve overall health.

Prevention and management

Overweight and obesity, as well as their related noncommunicable diseases, are largely preventable and manageable.

At the individual level, people may be able to reduce their risk by adopting preventive interventions at each step of the life cycle, starting from pre-conception and continuing during the early years. These include:- ensure appropriate weight gain during pregnancy; practice exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months after birth and continued breastfeeding until 24 months or beyond; support behaviours of children around healthy eating, physical activity, sedentary behaviours and sleep, regardless of current weight status; limit consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods and promote other healthy eating behaviours; limit energy intake from total fats and sugars and increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts;  engage in regular physical activity.

Health practitioners need to:- assess the weight and height of people accessing the health facilities; provide counselling on healthy diet and lifestyles; when a diagnosis of obesity is established, provide integrated obesity prevention and management health services including on healthy diet, physical activity and medical and surgical measures.      

Obesity is a societal rather than an individual responsibility, with the solutions to be found through the creation of supportive environments and communities that embed healthy diets and regular physical activity as the most accessible, available and affordable behaviours of daily life.

FAQs

Overweight refers to having excess body weight for a particular height, while obesity is having excessive body fat that increases the risk of health issues.

Obesity can be caused by a combination of factors, including poor diet, lack of physical activity, genetics, and certain medical conditions.

Obesity increases the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and certain cancers.

Yes, Global Poly Clinic offers treatment options including modern, Unani, and herbal medicine to help manage and reduce obesity effectively.

Yes, obesity can often be prevented with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. Early intervention is key.

A combination of dietary changes, increased physical activity, behavioral therapy, and sometimes medical or herbal treatment is recommended for weight loss.

Yes, obesity can affect children. Managing it involves healthy eating, physical activity, and sometimes professional guidance to develop sustainable habits.

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