What is Obesity?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat in the body that presents a risk to health.” Obesity is one of the major health problems in the world today.
Quick facts about Obesity
- The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-18 data shows that
- More than 2 in every 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity.
- About 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) have severe obesity with associated complications and diseases.
- In fact, WHO global health data reports claim that obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In 2016 alone, more than 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight and over 650 million adults were obese.
- The WHO global health data(2020) shows that 39 million children (about twice the population of New York) under the age of 5 were obese.
Causes of Obesity
The basic cause of obesity is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories burned. So if you give your body more calories than it can burn, it stores those extra calories as fat which leads to weight gain over time.
Many factors can contribute to obesity including
- Eating patterns (an increased intake of foods that are high in fat and processed sugars);
- Physical inactivity levels (sedentary lifestyle, watching tv, being on a computer);
- Sleeping habits (disturbed and insufficient sleep patterns);
- Genetics (slow metabolism), and
- Medical conditions (hormonal disturbances like hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease)
- certain Medications (Steroids, Anti-depressants etc.).
Complications of Obesity
Obesity increases the risk for diseases such as:
- Heart diseases (mainly high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attacks and stroke), which were the leading cause of death in 2012;
- Diabetes ( Type 2);
- Joint disorders (especially osteoarthritis);
- Breathing disorders like sleep apnea;
- Liver diseases (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease);
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and infertility;
- Digestive problems (from heartburn to colon cancers);
- Urinary Incontinence
- Depression and poor self-esteem,
- Cancers (including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon).
Is there a solution?
Don’t worry, Obesity is preventable!
You can take a step towards a healthier weight by:
- Avoiding foods high in sugars, salt, and fats;
- Avoiding processed foods;
- Drink more water instead of juices and sodas;
- Having more fruit and vegetables, as well as protein-rich food like legumes, whole grains and nuts; and
- Better sleep habits (at least 7 hours a day)
- Regular physical activity (at least 60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes [about 2 and a half hours] spread throughout the week for adults).
If you are worried about where to start, our team can help get you on track.
Doral Health & Wellness has an innovative Bariatrics center that helps people achieve their weight loss goals using lifestyle changes and the most modern and safe techniques in bariatric surgery. We are fully accredited and follow the highest US medical safety standards.