(NDAC) Obesity in Adulthood Lesson
Obesity in Adulthood Lesson
As previously stated in the course, obesity
(defined as weighing 20% or ore over ideal body weight) is an epidemic in America. Over 1/3 of the people in the US are obese. This means that they weigh twenty percent or more than their ideal body weight. Ideal body weight is determined by doctors and is usually dependent on height and weight. Healthy People 2030
Links to an external site. is a document that is put together by government officials, nutrition experts, and other professionals. This document is published every 10 years. The goal stated in this document was created in an effort to reduce the amount of obesity to 15% and so far, not a single state has met this goal. This goal was set by government officials, scientists, and nutritionists.
The American Association of Family Physicians defines obese as having a Body Mass Index (or BMI, is a weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing one's weight in kilograms by the square of one's height in meters and used as an indicator of obesity and underweight) of more than 30. Along with ideal body weight charts, Body Mass Index charts are posted in health care facilities. These charts have been used for many years in medical offices and pediatrician offices. The Body Mass Index is a method used to measure the body's weight, although it's important to know that the Body Mass Index guide is viewed by many health professionals as having some weaknesses. On the positive side, this is a good general reference to use for weight and height for the mass population. Also, it does give a somewhat broad range of healthy weight and at risk weight. So, people can get a visual of where they are on the chart. However, the big debate is that it does not take into account the higher weight of muscle or lean body tissue. So, people that have a large amount of muscle tend to look like they are obese on the chart. Likewise, elderly people can look like they are healthy and may actually have an excess amount of fat. It seems that way because elderly people usually have far less lean muscle mass than the average adult.
Classification of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
There are other methods available to measure body weight and fat. A good way to predict heart attack risk and other obesity-related diseases is a measurement that divides the circumference of your waist by your hips. If you're a woman, the waist-to-hip ratio should come out as no more than 0.8. For men, a healthy waist-to-hip ratio for them is 0.95.
Example: A women's waist measurement is 27 inches and her hips are 32 inches.
27 / 32 = .84
Using this equation, you will see that the woman is slightly over the recommendation.
Research has shown that the most dangerous type of fat is belly weight fat. That fat is closer to the heart and has been shown to create more of a problem. Fat that is located on a woman's hips tends to be hereditary and related to hormones. It is still not good but is more acceptable in regards to disease and other problems.
Causes of Obesity in Adults
There is no one cause for obesity. Often, several factors contribute to a person becoming obese. To be exact, when someone consumes more calories than they burn off, then they will gain weight. That weight gain keeps accumulating unless the person works to get it off. After a period of constant weight gain, a person can become obese. Study the information below to better understand how certain factors contribute to weight gain.
Understanding what is causing the weight gain is key to getting weight under control. For many people, this is not as easy as it seems. They do not realize how many calories they are taking in each day. Most adults need between 1600- 2000 calories a day. That can be higher or lower depending on their metabolism and their activity level. Keeping a food journal is a great way to keep track of the food and calories you are eating.
Also, most adults are recommended to participate in physical activity 5 days a week. Participating in at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity can help to burn additional calories. A pedometer, a calorie bug, or journaling physical activity are methods to keep track of the amount of calories burned by exercise.
It is estimated that about 300,000 deaths a year are caused from the underlying factor of obesity. There are many diseases and conditions that are related to obesity. They are as follows:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Cancer - Eating a diet loaded with fat, alcohol and other unhealthy items can increase your risk.
- Congestive Heart - The heart is a muscle and it has to work harder to pump blood through a body where there is more fat.
- Enlarged Heart - A heart condition where the muscle of your heart becomes larger due to being overworked, which naturally happens if you are overweight.
- High Cholesterol - Elevated LDL (bad cholesterol) can be caused by eating an unhealthy fatty diet.
- Pulmonary Embolism - A fatal blockage of an artery can result from inactivity.
- Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease happens when stomach acid and juices flow from the stomach back up into the esophagus. It is common in overweight people.
- Fatty Liver Disease is a reversible condition in which large pockets of fat accumulate in liver cells.
- A hernia is caused when the hole in the diaphragm weakens and enlarges.
- Urinary Incontinence is the inability to control urination. It is frequently associated with obesity, weak bladder and pelvic floor muscles.
- Chronic Renal Failure, meaning your kidneys fail to work, is a much greater risk in those who are overweight or obese.
- Stroke is caused by a lack of blood supply to your brain. Excess fat storage in the body can cause an increase in the lack of blood to the brain.
- Sleep Apnea - Sleep disturbances may be caused by the temporary lack of oxygen. Being overweight puts more strain on the heart and lungs and this can increase during sleep.
- Depression is a condition where a person feels miserable constantly, even to the point of being suicidal. It can be worse for someone who also has a weight problem.
- Osteoarthritis, which is inflammation of the joints, is sometimes caused by obesity.
- Gout occurs when uric acid accumulates in the blood. Nerve endings then become irritated, causing extreme pain, which is made worse by carrying extra weight.
- Gallbladder Disease commonly affects overweight people as a result of high blood cholesterol levels, which cause gallstones.
Higher Costs
Not only are people that are obese at a higher risk for obtaining a disease, but they are also at risk for paying a higher amount for medical care. According to the CDC, in 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion. Also, insurance companies paid about $1400 per year more for a person that was overweight than for a normal weight person. This is because individuals that are overweight have other medical conditions that become part of the treatment. Most of the extra spending reflects the costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments far more common for the obese population. As for prescriptions, it is estimated that obese people pay about $600 more dollars each year for treatment-related drugs than that of a normal-weight person.
Some people choose a controversial procedure to help them control eating. This is called Bariatric Surgery. This procedure surgically reduces the size of the stomach to about the size of your thumb. There are several ways to do this. The costs for this type of surgery can range from $15,000- $30,000 and is not covered by the insurance companies. Also, after losing a lot of weight, some people may choose to pay for plastic surgery procedures to remove loose and sagging skin.
Women and Obesity
Women face a certain unusual set of circumstances in adulthood. Because of the changes in hormones and eventually the loss of menstruation, some women will put on weight. Menopause
(a time in a woman's life when her ovaries stop releasing eggs and the production of estrogen and progesterone slow down) is a time in a women's life when her ovaries stop releasing eggs and the production of estrogen and progesterone slow down. Because of this, the woman will lose her ability to reproduce and will start to see many changes in her body. Women usually gain weight more rapidly and also begin to lose calcium from their bones, putting them at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Women going through this change need to eat a diet low in fat, high in fiber, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. They also need to concentrate on taking a high-quality calcium supplements and multivitamin. Low-impact exercises like swimming and stretching are good to keep the body limber. Participating in weight-bearing activities like jogging and walking can help to build and prevent bone loss.
Treatment and Prevention
The first way to treat obesity is to lose weight. Any weight loss, even small amounts, can help to reduce the incidence of disease and medical conditions. All obese people should begin by aiming to reduce body weight by 10%. Once that goal is achieved and an individual can successfully maintain that weight loss, losing 1 or 2 further pounds a week becomes the goal. This is considered by most experts to be the safest way to lose weight in the long term and to sustain the weight loss. There is no easy cure for obesity. However, there is a list of actions to follow for anyone that is interested in becoming healthy. They are:
- Eat a healthy and well balanced diet
- Aim to keep your calorie intake in a normal range 1600-2000
- Keep a journal of food intake and calories
- Participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate level physical activity 5 days a week
- Modify negative eating behaviors (E.g. Find another way to deal with stress)
- Try to associate with people who have healthy eating patterns and exercise habits
- Plan activity dates instead of restaurant outings
- Eat dinner around 6 pm and avoid late night snacking
- Always eat breakfast
- Reduce alcohol intake or abstain totally
- Choose low fat dairy options
- Refrain from eating dessert
- Choose baked, grilled or steamed items instead of fried
A few simple changes make a big difference. To lose one pound of fat, a person must burn 3500 calories. Making a few of the changes suggested below can help you on your way to losing weight.
[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION