Obesity is characterized by being overweight, usually caused by a sedentary lifestyle and an exaggerated consumption of foods high in fats and sugars, which causes several harms in a person’s life, such as the development of diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol. high infarction or osteoarthritis of the bones, as well as symptoms such as difficulty exercise, indisposition and low self-esteem.
To identify that a person is obese, in most cases, BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation that analyzes the weight of the person presents in relation to his height, dividing into different degrees:
You can also use our calculator to find out your BMI
In addition to being classified by weight, obesity also varies depending on the location and distribution of fats throughout the body:
Fat is mainly deposited in the abdomen and waist, and can also be distributed on the chest and face. This type of obesity is also known as android or apple-shaped obesity, due to the similarity of the person’s silhouette to this fruit, and is more common in men, although some women may also suffer from it.
Abdominal obesity is highly associated with a high risk of developing other cardiovascular diseases such as high cholesterol, heart disease, heart attacks, as well as diabetes, inflammation and thrombosis.
This type of obesity is more common in women, because fat is more localized in the thighs, hips and buttocks, and is known as pear obesity, by the shape of the silhouette, or obesity gynecologist.
Peripheral obesity is more associated with circulatory problems, such as venous insufficiency and varicose veins, and knee osteoarthritis, due to the overweight of these joints, but also increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
In this case, there is no predominance of fat in a localized area, as excess weight is distributed throughout the body. This can be dangerous because the person can be careless as there is no big impact on physical appearance, as is the case with other types.
Excess fat has negative effects throughout the body, causing uncomfortable signs and symptoms, such as:
In addition, obesity is a major cause of several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, thrombosis and impotence, and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
Obesity can occur at any age, and in Brazil the number of people suffering from this situation is increasing, due to excessive consumption of caloric foods, such as bread, pasta, sweets, fast food and prepared dishes, as well as a sedentary lifestyle. , which means that the amount of calories consumed is greater than the amount the person spends the day.
In addition, hormonal disorders or emotional problems such as anxiety or nervousness can also increase the risk of obesity and therefore these situations should be treated as soon as they are identified. Learn more about the main causes of the onset of obesity and how to combat it.
Childhood obesity is also becoming more common, because of the excess of industrial foods, sweets and soft drinks, as well as fewer and fewer outdoor activities. The child usually follows the habits of parents, so it is very common for obese children to also be overweight.
The main way to detect obesity is the calculation of BMI, however, in addition to gaining weight, it is also important to identify fat deposition in different parts of the body, differentiating the weight in fat from muscle weight.
Therefore, to evaluate body fat and its distribution, we use
Abdominal circumference measurement: identifies the deposition of fat in the abdomen and the risk of developing abdominal obesity, qualifying in this type of obesity when the waist circumference exceeds 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women;
Ideally, these assessments and measurements are made by your nutritionist or doctor to correctly identify the amount of fat the person needs to eliminate and plan an ideal treatment.
Treatment of obesity should be done with regular physical exercise, guided by a physical preparer, and a diet, guided by a nutritionist, and should be done gradually and healthily, as diets that promise very rapid weight loss generally have no duration effects or are harmful to health.
Discover some tips for adjusting your diet naturally and healthily to achieve the goal of weight loss:
Weight-loss medications can also be used to treat obesity, but their use should only be done under the direction of the endocrinologist. In more severe cases, certain types of surgery, such as bariatric surgery, may also be used. Find out how obesity is treated and when medication or surgery is appropriate.