Obesity

Obesity is the term used to describe the accumulation of
excessive body fat.

DESCRIPTION

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to measure Obesity. BMI is
calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by the
square of their height in metres. A person with a BMI between 25
and 30 is defined as overweight and a person with a BMI over 30 is
defined as obese. There are three classes of Obesity. Class one
Obesity is moderate and is diagnosed in a person with a BMI between
30 and 34.9. Class two Obesity is severe and is diagnosed in a
person with a BMI between 35 and 39.9. Class three is very severe
and is diagnosed in a person with a BMI of 40 or above. See the BMI
Calculator topic for more information.

 

Environmental. A number of environmental factors influence
Obesity, including socioeconomic status (people from lower
socioeconomic groups are more likely to be obese), a large food
intake and lack of exercise. 

Regulatory. Other factors influencing Obesity include pregnancy,
an increase in fat cells and fat tissue mass during infancy and
childhood, brain damage, certain medications, psychological factors
(leading to eating disorders such as binge eating disorder) and
hormonal disorders. 

Genetic. Genes do play a role in how the body stores fat and how
hungry a person feels or how long it takes to feel full.

 

Obesity can reduce life expectancy by up to nine years. It
also increases a person’s risk of developing a range of
health-related problems, including:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Osteoarthritis
• High blood pressure
• Gallstones
• Infertility
• Depression

 

Combined with a lack of exercise, Obesity contributes to one
third of cancers of the colon, breast, kidney and stomach.

OBESITY AND PREGNANCY

Women who are obese prior to pregnancy may be at increased
risk of birth defects developing in their children. Clinical
studies have found that babies born to obese women are more likely
to suffer from neural tube and heart defects. The reason for this
increased risk amongst obese women is unclear. There are several
possible mechanisms which include development of the foetus being
adversely affected by abnormalities in glucose metabolism, insulin
or other hormone levels. Overweight and obese women are also at
higher risk of gestational diabetes which has been linked to an
increased risk of birth defects. Research indicates that obese
women may require additional nutrients, such as folic acid, to
prevent birth defects.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

As with all conditions your Doctor should be consulted to
diagnose and treat this condition. 

Your Doctor can recommend a weight management programme to
suit your needs and monitor your progress at regular intervals.
Your Doctor may recommend a combination of the following:

• Long-term change in eating patterns.
• Behaviour therapy – modification and reinforcement, nutrition
  education, increase in physical activity.
• Medications.
• Surgery.

DIET HINTS

• Eat a variety of nutritious foods including wholegrain breads
  and cereals, vegetables and legumes and fruits. 
• The diet should be low in fat (particularly saturated fat),
  sugar and salt.
• Limit alcohol intake. 

See the Weight Management Diet topic on the Healthpoint.

VITAMINS/MINERALS/HERBS

Always consult your Doctor before taking any supplement or
herbs.

• Multivitamin supplements can be beneficial for people on a
  restricted diet.
• Chitosan is a shellfish product, which has been found in some
  studies to result in weight loss following supplementation. It may
  not be suitable for people with shellfish allergies and pregnant
  and breastfeeding women
• Chromium may assist weight loss as it can improve blood sugar
  balance and reduce sweet cravings.
• Essential fatty acids may assist weight loss as these are
  required by the body to burn fat as fuel. A good example is
  Flaxseed oil or fish oil.

Some herbs are used in non-prescription weight loss
preparations. These include Gymnema sylvestre and Green tea.

• Gymnema sylvestre can assist to regulate blood sugar levels,
  therefore can be beneficial as a weight loss supplement. A study
  found that Gymnea syvestre facilitated a reduction in excess body
  weight and BMI, while promoting healthy blood lipid levels.
• Green tea has been shown in studies to increase thermogenesis,
  the body’s ability to burn energy.

 

Ask your Pharmacist for advice.

1. Follow the Diet Hints. A combination of moderate, regular
   exercise and a sensible diet is more effective in the treatment and
   prevention of Obesity than either alone.
2. Forget the ‘fad’ diets. These may cause an initial weight loss
   which is often the result of fluid loss from the body. Losing too
   much weight too quickly can be dangerous and may cause the body to
   gain even more weight when normal eating resumes. Concentrate on
   low fat, healthy food and exercise to achieve long-term weight
   control.
3. Remember that even a modest weight loss of 5-10% can help to
   improve and control the complications of Obesity. 
4. If you have any queries about medications your Doctor may have
   prescribed as part of your weight management programme, ask your
   Pharmacist for advice.
5. Avoid alcohol. The average alcoholic drink contains
   approximately 500 kilojoules and is of little nutritional
   value.
6. Have regular exercise. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise,
   three to four times a week is recommended to maintain fitness and a
   healthy weight. Before undertaking any strenuous exercise, always
   start with a complete medical check-up. 
7. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fresh, filtered water each day. The
   water will help to keep the bowels regular and prevent
   constipation. Ask your Pharmacist about the different types of
   water filters which are available.