The Obesity Epidemic.

Obesity may well be the single biggest danger to world health, increasing rapidly throughout the world, doubling between 1991 and 1998 and showing no signs of slowing down. In the United States which together with Australia is acknowledged as having the greatest incidence of obesity, roughly 300,000 deaths per year are directly related to the condition. Of particular concern is the phenomenal increase in childhood obesity and teen obesity.

What is Obesity?

An excess of total body fat which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage, it can be defined as having a BMI or body mass index of over 30 or being 20% or more over the maximum desirable weight for men or 25% for women. BMI is calculated by dividing a persons weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. For example, a person who is 1.6m tall and weighs 70kg would have a BMI of 70/(1.6*1.6) = 27.34

Complications

Obesity results in a shorter life expectancy having been linked to: insulin abnormalities, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke (particularly where fat is abdominal), fertility problems, depression, cancers including breast, endometrial and colon cancers, gall bladder disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, musculoskeletal problems such as osteoarthritis and back pain, also gout, cataracts, stress, incontinence, sleep apnoea and diabetes mellitus which complicates and magnifies all of the previous conditions.

Causes of Obesity

Apart from the obvious over eating and lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, abnormal absorbtion of nutrients, impaired action of growth hormones or insulin regulators and hypothalamic dysfunction have all been implicated.

There is an inverse ratio between the socioeconomic status of an area and the prevalence of obesity, particularly among women. Obesity in parents increases the likelihood of obesity in children. Psychological factors such as stress or emotional eating may also exacerbate the problem.

Prevention and Treatment

Obesity is a preventable disease which can reduced by better education, increased community exercise programs and better dissemination of nutrition information.

Individuals should endeavour to change their lifestyles;

* exercise more

* reduce calorie intake

* eat regular small meals

* increase the intake of water

* eat more fruits

* eat fewer fast food meals

Most of the popular diet fads are counterproductive, producing an early weight loss which is mainly due to water reduction and resulting in a yo-yo effect which puts severe strain on the body.

Alternative treatments which may well result in better long term and sustainable weight loss include; behavioral counseling, hypnosis and acupuncture or the recently developed Lifewave SP6 acupuncture patches which can help with appetite control.

As a last resort, surgery which reduces the capacity of the stomach is available for morbidly obese individuals.