What Is Obesity?
The clinical definition of obesity is based on a consideration of the Body Mass Index or BMI. This is calculated from the following equation:
(Body weight in Pounds x 705) divided by (height in inches x height in inches).
So, for someone who weighs 102 pounds and is 5 feet tall, the calculation is
(102 x 705) divided by (60 x 60) = Approx. 20
BMI and Weight Ratings
Below 18.5 = Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 = Normal Weight Range
25.0 – 29.9 = Overweight
Over 30.0 = Obese
Over 40.0 = Morbidly Obese
How Common Is Obesity In The USA?
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 2007-2008 revealed that an estimated 68% of adults in the U.S. aged 20 and over are either overweight (34.2%) or clinically obese (33.9%). Of the latter, 32.3% are men and 35.5% of women). These include 5.7% of American adults who are morbidly obese. In addition, over 9 million children in the USA are known to be overweight or obese. This is a national disaster.
How Does It Affect Health?
There are some physicians who consider obesity to be a disease in itself. It certainly has some very serious consequences for health as outlined below.
1) Type 2 Diabetes. In this condition, insulin is still produced and released by the pancreas but the tissues do not respond to it and so they are unable to absorb glucose from the blood. Obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and if the condition is not well managed it can lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, slow healing of wounds, peripheral blood vessel and nerve damage, and an increased risk of lower limb loss. Type 2 diabetes used to be called Adult-Onset Diabetes because it was diagnosed only in adults, but now that obesity is being increasingly observed in children, Type 2 diabetes is occurring there also, further underscoring the seriousness of the obesity epidemic.
2) High Blood Pressure. People are overweight and obese because they possess additional adipose tissue which stores body fat. In order to keep this tissue alive, the body makes additional blood vessels and the task of supplying blood through all this extra mileage of vasculature puts a further load on the heart. To overcome the increased resistance to blood flow, blood pressure increases. Blood pressure also rises because blood vessels lose their elasticity as people are repeatedly exposed to an unhealthy diet, high in processed foods. Being obese more than doubles the risk of developing high blood pressure and this in turn is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.
3) Cancer. There is an association between obesity and an increased risk of cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium (uterine lining), esophagus, pancreas and kidney. There is also evidence to suggest an elevated risk of gall bladder and stomach cancer, and increased prostate cancer mortality. Fat tissue is a major site of estrogen synthesis in women and if there is more fat tissue, more estrogen will be produced and this can increase the likelihood of estrogen-sensitive cancers including breast cancer in post-menopausal women. In addition, fat tissue produces inflammatory agents and these can also adversely affect health.
4) Dementia including Alzheimer’s Disease. The brains of obese people have been found to be 8% smaller and appear 16 years older than those of normal weight people. People who were overweight but not yet clinically obese had brains that were 4% smaller and looked 8 years older. A reduction in brain size is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
5) Osteoarthritis. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are worse in people who are overweight or obese. The excess body weight places additional stress upon the joints. For example, in the case of obese women, there is a 9- times increased risk of developing osteoarthritis at the knee joint.
6) Other Medical Conditions. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of abdominal hernias, gall bladder disease, gout, liver malfunction, respiratory problems, sleep apnea and varicose veins.
So put simply, obesity left unchecked leads to a reduced quality of life and serious health problems, the consequences of which keep doctors and hospitals very busy. In addition to the pain and suffering involved, there are also significant emotional and financial costs. If you think wellness is expensive, try disease.
A Plan Of Action To Lose Weight
1) Calculate your BMI to see if you are overweight or obese.
2) If you are, then make a commitment to take control of your health and lose weight.
3) If you are a person of faith, pray for God’s guidance and support.
4) Write down your commitment. Resolutions that are written down have a much better success rate. Be specific in your goals.
5) Share your goals with family members and friends.
6) Partner with a family member, friend or organization for encouragement and accountability.
7) Seek medical guidance if you have any health issues that may require dietary and exercise counseling.
8) Post a notice displaying your commitment to yourself.
9) Write down what you eat and drink daily.
10) Read food labels.
11) Begin by replacing high calorie, low nutrient items with low calorie, high nutrient items. Eat a primarily plant-based diet.
12) Make some rules. For example, every sandwich or pizza slice must be accompanied by 2-3 cupfuls of salad. Use a light dressing.
13) Aim for 5-8 servings of pesticide-free vegetables per day, at least half of which should be consumed raw.
14) Consume at least 4-6 servings of pesticide-free fruit per day.
15) Eat fresh fruit instead of juicing it.
16) Minimize consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, potatoes and white rice.
17) Prepare meals at home as much as possible. Greatly limit store-bought and restaurant meals.
18) Don’t be sedentary. Move around throughout the day.
19) Walk more. Park further from your destination, if it is safe to do so.
20) As you lose weight you will have more energy and this will help you to lose even more weight.
21) The result will be that you will accomplish more.
22) Your self-esteem will rise.
Please share this article with a family member or friend who needs help.
© Dr. Chris Jones, Adventist Health Ministry, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
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