Obesity is a life-threatening disease. Half of all Americans are overweight, and one quarter of the population are classified as obese, which causes various related illnesses and health problems such as:
Premature death
Stroke
Heart disease
Hypertension
Type-2 Diabetes
Respiratory problems
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Joint pain
Cancer
Obesity is measured by the Body Mass Index, a calculation which relates weight to height. The National Institutes of Health have published the following BMI guidelines:
Normal (healthy weight-to-height ratio): Up to 25
Overweight: 25-29.9
Obese: 30-34.9
Severely Obese: 35-39.9
Morbidly Obese: 40 and up (or 100 lbs. overweight)
Use our BMI calculator to the right to determine your own classification. Each higher degree of obesity yields an increased risk of physical, mental, and social disability. A BMI of 30 or more indicates a doubled risk of death, while a BMI of 40 or more indicates 4 times the normal risk level.
There are many causes for obesity beyond patient control. External factors include:
Genetics
Metabolic disorders
Psychological factors
Social and environmental factors
Eating and exercise habits
|
