Diet, Obesity and Weight Management Information

Part 1 of 9 - What is Obesity?

The definition of obesity varies depending on what one reads, but in general, it is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount body fat. In order to function properly your body requires a certain amoun of fat in the body for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese.

Just how much of a problem is obesity?

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Over 30% of all Americans are considered 'obese'. Obesity is also increasing rapidly throughout the world, and the incidence of obesity has nearly doubled form 1991 to 1998.

What are some of the dangers of being obese?

harmful to one's health. In the United States, More than 300,000 patient deaths are directly related to obesity, and more than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a BMI (body mass index over 30). For most obese people, they are putting themselves at risk for suffering MAJOR chronic disease, such as:

- Insulin Resistance - (Pre-diabetes). Insulin is the enzyme that helps your body properly use the sugar you body consumes, (which is then used for energy). By sending glucose into cells, insulin keeps the blood glucose levels in the normal range. Insulin resistance (IR) is the condition of the effectiveness oftransporting of insulin in directing glucose (sugar) into cells is diminished. Fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells; IR occurs most commonly in people that are considered obese. The pancreas initially responds to IR by producing more insulin. As long as the pancreas can produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, blood glucose levels remain normal. This condition (IR) is recognized by normal blood glucose levels and high insulin levels) and can last for years. Once the pancreas can no longer keep up with producing high levels of insulin, blood glucose levels begin to rise, resulting in type 2 diabetes, thus IR is a pre-diabetes condition. In fact scientists now believe that the atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) associated with diabetes likely develops during this IR period.

- Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. Type 2 diabetes becomes more likely the higher the degree and the longer one is obese. Type 2 diabetes is associated with central obesity; a person with central obesity has excess fat around his/her waist, so that the body is shaped like an apple.

- High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the most common condition found among the obese. A recent study found that women who gained weight tended to develop hypertension more significanlty than men. The risk of developing high blood pressure is also higher in obese people who are suffering from central obesity (belly fat) than people with fat distributed mainly in the hips and thighs.

- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

- Stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA)

- Heart attack. Recent studies havefound that the risk of developing coronary artery disease increased 3 to 4 times in women who had a BMI greater than 29. Similar studies have also determined that for every one kilogram (2.2 pounds) increase in body weight, the risk of death from coronary artery disease increased by one percent. If an obese person has already had a heart attack, obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of a second heart attack.

- Congestive heart failure

- Cancer. While there are still a lot of studies going on about the link between obesity and cancer, some some studies directly link obesity tocancer of the colon in men and women, cancer of the rectum and prostate in men, and cancer of the gallbladder and uterus in women. Another type of cancer associated with obesity is breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. Fat tissue is important in the production of estrogen, and prolonged exposure to high levels of estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer.

- Gallstones

- Gout and gouty arthritis

- Degenerative Arthihritis of the knees, hips, and the lower back

- Sleep apnea

- Pickwickian syndrome (obesity, red face, under-ventilation, and drowsiness)

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Suzanne Schaffner, Ph.D., is a medical consultant and writer, living in Atlanta, GA. and is also a staff writer and contributor to yourhealthandwellnesstoday.com. Read more from of their articles by visiting http://offto.net/WeightLossProgramReview