Obesity is a term used to describe an overweight person with a high rate of body fat. A slight excess weight may not cause a lot of apparent problems, but once you have a few extra pounds, you can develop symptoms that affect your daily life.
The most commonly used method of assessing a person's weight is body mass index (BMI), which is their weight in kilograms divided by their height in square meters.
If your BMI is:
Between 25 and 29 years old, you would be considered overweight.
Between 30 and 40 years old, you would be considered obese.
More than 40, would be considered very obese.
Another useful method is to measure around your waist. Men whose waist is 94 cm or larger and women 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of diabetes. of cancer.
As obese children also tend to be obese later in life, it is important for parents to set a good example for their children from an early age.
If you think you may be overweight or obese;
If you are overweight or obese, check with your doctor to find out if you have a higher risk of having health problems and how to lose weight safely.
The topics to discuss with your doctor include:
Any underlying cause of your obesity, for example, if you take certain medications or have a health problem that causes weight gain
your lifestyle, especially your diet and physical activity level, as well as your smoking habit and your alcohol consumption
what you feel about being overweight, for example, if you feel depressed about it
my motivation to lose weight
your family history of obesity and other health problems, such as diabetes (a condition caused by too much glucose in the blood)
In addition to calculating your BMI, your doctor can also perform tests that include measuring your blood pressure, the distance around your waist, and the levels of glucose (sugar) and lipids (lipids) in your blood.
