Obesity is a disease in which an excessive amount of fat accumulates in the subcutaneous tissue and other tissues.
Excess weight, unfortunately, is not only an aesthetic problem that can seriously poison a person's life. Extra kilograms very often affect the general health of a person and can not only cause serious diseases for life, but even lead to death. So, frequent consequences of obesity are such serious diseases as atherosclerosis, diabetes, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.
We can say that obesity is a scourge of modern civilized society, inexorable statistics claim that today every resident of economically developed countries has this problem. Moreover, if not long ago in the vast majority of cases obesity was, so to speak, "inherited", today it affects people regardless of genetic factors.
So, obesity is a disease that must be treated competently. Today, nutritionists and endocrinologists deal with obesity. Why them? The answer lies in the main causes of the disease, among which metabolic disorders, improper, and often excessive nutrition occupy the first places. Unfortunately, many people, suspecting that they have such a problem, delay visiting a specialist for various reasons.
However, you need to understand that the movement from the first degree of obesity to each subsequent one entails new and new health problems, which will be increasingly difficult to cope with. We hope that an important motivation for such indecisive people will be the opportunity to find out the current stage of obesity and understand the problems they are facing. If, of course, these problems are still covered.
How to determine the degree of obesity yourselfThe easiest way to determine whether your body weight is normal is the Broca index (this method was used in Soviet times, it is still relevant today): subtract 100 and another 10-15% from your height (in centimeters). However, there is one limitation: this calculation can be applied to people from 155 to 170 cm. In addition, the obtained figure helps to determine the normal weight, but what to do if a person's weight exceeds the normal limits?
To determine the degree of obesity, it is best to calculate the body mass index according to the formula proposed by the Belgian Adolf Ketele.
In this formula, I is the body mass index, m is the body weight in kilograms, and h is the height in meters.
Let's give an example: a person's height is 160, weight - 60.
BMI = 60 : ( 1.6 x1 , 6 ) = 23.4
Now you need to refer to the table of interpretation of this indicator:
16 and less - pronounced deficiency of body weight
16-18.5 - insufficient body weight
18.5 - 25 is the norm
25-30 - overweight or obesity
30 - 35 - obesity of the first degree
35-40 - obesity of the second degree
40 or more - obesity of the third degree
Now that we have decided on the calculation of the degrees of obesity , let's "walk" through each of them to understand what is behind the obtained figure.
Overweight and obesity of the first degreeWhile there are no particular health complaints, a person may be more concerned about his appearance and some physical discomfort. However, these extra kilograms are already beginning to affect the general well-being, as there is an increase in the load on the spine, bones, and joints. What can cause pain in the joints, violations in their work, violations in the work of the musculoskeletal system.
It is important to understand that these first stages of obesity are usually progressive processes, if measures are not taken in time to stabilize weight and eliminate extra kilograms, then the weight will come on more slowly or faster.
Obesity of the second degreeWhen a person's weight exceeds the norm by 50-99%, the second degree of obesity is diagnosed. The body reacts to extra kilograms with chronic malaise and constant fatigue, weakness, and frequent irritability. Patients talk about a constant feeling of hunger and thirst, a frequent or constant feeling of nausea, shortness of breath, constant pain in all joints is noted. Diseases of internal organs begin to bother.
When a person's weight is twice the norm, they speak of the third degree of obesity. Here, the symptoms noted in the second degree deepen even more. The patient is characterized by swelling of the body and face, in addition, there are complaints of constant pain in internal organs, most often it is the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. At this stage of obesity, modifications begin in all systems and organs of the body.
If a person is diagnosed with one or another degree of obesity, then only one thing can be said here: take care of yourself and start treatment. To date, there are several proven methods of obesity treatment , and the optimal choice should be made together with the attending physician.
First of all, they resort to non-medical methods - this is a diet and increased physical activity. Next come medicinal methods - the patient may be prescribed drugs that suppress appetite, drugs aimed at normalizing the hormonal background. Sometimes they also resort to surgery - abdominoplasty (removal of the abdomen) and liposuction (removal of subcutaneous fat from under the skin).