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Obesity is a global health problem faced by many nations worldwide. The most widely affected nations of obesity are the U.S. and European nations. Obesity rates in under-developed countries are also rising. Recent reports suggest that obesity may soon overtake cigarette smoking as a serious health risk

Obesity is not a simple condition of eating too much. It is now recognized that obesity is a serious, chronic disease-not human condition. It is not race, religion, gender or ethnicity exclusive. Being overweight or obese also brings with it an increased risk for diabetes and muscular-skeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis.

To most people, the term "obesity" means to be very overweight. Health professionals define "overweight" as an excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. "Obesity" specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as bodybuilders or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese.

Everyone needs a certain amount of body fat for stored energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. As a rule, women have more body fat than men. Most health care providers agree that men with more than 25 percent body fat and women with more than 30 percent body fat are obese.

Key Facts

In the United States over 60 percent of U.S. adults and 13 percent of children are estimated to be overweight, and an estimated 300,000 deaths per year are associated with being overweight or obese. Furthermore, 8 out of 10 over 25's are overweight and there has been a 76 percent increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990.

In the UK, nearly two-thirds of men and over half of all women are now overweight- and 1 in 5 are obese (at least 30-45 pounds overweight). The level of obesity has tripled in the past 20 years, and is still rising.

Obesity can lead to health problems, including arthritis, heart disease and diabetes

Obesity epidemic?

Being very fat, or 'obese', is linked to many health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis. And the world population is becoming fatter, leading some to believe that we are in the grip of an obesity epidemic.

What is BMI ?

Body Mass Index (BMI) uses a mathematical formula based on a person's height and weight. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). The BMI table that follows has already calculated this information. Although the BMI ranges shown in the table are not exact ranges of healthy and unhealthy weight, they are useful guidelines. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

What causes Obesity?

In scientific terms, obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. What causes this imbalance between calories in and calories out may differ from one person to another. Genetic, environmental, psychological, and other factors may all play a part.

How is it treated?

The method of treatment depends on your level of obesity, overall health condition, and motivation to lose weight. Treatment may include a combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and sometime s weight-loss drugs. In some cases of severe obesity, gastrointestinal surgery may be recommended. Remember, weight control is a life-long effort.

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