Obesity

The Dangers of Obesity and What you can do About It.

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. Being obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions.

These include :

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

One can maintain a healthy weigh by balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses. Treatment of an overweight or obese person incorporates a two step process: assessment and management. Assessment includes determination of the degree of obesity and overall health status. Assessment determines the degree of obesity and overall health status. This should include the evaluation of body mass index (BMI). Management involves not only weight loss and maintenance of body weight but also measures to control other risk factors. A 10 percent reduction in body weight reduces disease risk factors. Weight should be lost at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week based on a calorie deficit of 500–1,000 kcal/day.