Obesity is the abnormally increased fat deposition in the human body. This increase in the amount of body fat, of course, implies an increase in body weight. Since 1948 the World Health Organization has included obesity in the list of diseases. A disease is defined as any condition that reduces the quality and quantity of life. For the obese, the quality of life is clearly reduced and life is shortened, as many frequent and significant health complications appear, compared to people of normal weight.
Severe obesity poses health risks as it presents complications. The accumulation of fat around the abdomen, which usually occurs in men, often causes cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, etc. On the contrary, the accumulation of fat in the thighs and buttocks, which usually occurs in women, mainly causes vascular problems in the legs such as venous insufficiency (varicose veins), etc.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is defined through BMI, which is obtained by dividing the weight (in kilograms) by the height² (in meters). BMI = Weight (kg) / Height² (m).
The following table shows the classification based on Body Mass Index (BMI):
| If the BMI is: | The person is: |
|---|---|
| Less than 18,5 | Thin |
| From 18,5 to 25 | Average weight |
| From 25 to 30 | Overweight |
| From 30 to 35 | Mildly obese |
| From 35 to 40 | Moderately obese |
| More than 40 | Severely obese |
Internationally, the mediterranean diet is found to be the best way of eating and it plays a significant role in preventing diseases such as dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, various cancers, etc.
| Weekly | Daily | |
|---|---|---|
| Red meat, sweets | Eggs, poultry, fish | Dairy products, Olive Oil, Olives, Fruits, Vegetables, Legumes, Bread, Pasta, Rice, Potatoes, Cereals |
The dietary management is the most important part of weight loss efforts. In addition to the balanced energy intake diet program, the dietary management includes advice on diet rules (eg, number of meals, meal size, frequency of meals, etc.) and regular exercise.
The treatment of obesity varies depending on the age group of the individual. It is important to prevent obesity in an early age, as 70% of overweight children and adolescents will become overweight or obese adults, with this percentage rising to 80% if one of the parents is overweight or obese.
Eleni P. Andreou, RDN, LD, FHEA, DProf
Clinical Dietician