The Problem of Overweight and Obesity

The obesity epidemic is fast increasing, this is a public health challenge; 97 million adults in United States are estimated to be overweight or obese. There are several co morbidities associated with obesity including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea , respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease(CVD) and diabetes mellitus.  Obesity also increases the risk of developing some cancers such as breast, prostate and colon cancer. Overweight and obesity increases the mortality rate which is the death rate, this can occur as a result of the co morbidities mentioned above. People who are obese or overweight may face stigmatisation and discrimination which might further exacerbate some of the problems mentioned above. Though, obesity and overweight are not frequently exclusive, since obese people are also overweight.  A BMI of 30 indicates an individual is about 30 pounds overweight; it may be exemplified by a 221-pound person who is 6 feet tall or a 186-pound individual who is 5 feet 6 inches tall. The BMI (Body Mass Index) is used to determine if an individual is overweight and/or obese, BMI takes into consideration the height to determine what category of weight an individual is. It is important to seek advice from the GP regarding what ideal weight you should be. The last decade has seen an increase in the percentage of adults who are overweight and obese. This is more apparent in individuals from a minority background, those on lower income and those not well educated. When an individual who is overweight and/or obese has other medical conditions present, the risk of developing co-morbidities mentioned above is increased 

 

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