Consultancy Corner: ‘Obesity is an economical and biological threat to us’

Obesity is an extremely significant and increasing public health challenge in both economically developed and developing regions of the world. The current estimates are that 33 % of the world’s population of 7.08 billion—a staggering 2.36 billion people—are overweight or obese. There are an estimated 2.5 people added to the global population each second and one of them will be obese or overweight. Even more alarming is that at least 2.8 million people across the world are dying each year directly as a result of being overweight or obese.

Health-care costs associated with obesity are high. Social, psychological, and economic consequences are also well recognized. As stated above this disease is going to be an economical and biological threat to world nations in near future.

Men have high level of testosterone and that is one of the reason for fat around waist. Women also accumulate fat when estrogen level decreases and testosterone level increases in special conditions. The other common reasons for both men and women for central obesity is sedentary life style and high caloric food intake.

Over all body fat is most commonly measured by BMI (Body Mass Index), which is determined by weight divided by height. In India overweight is defined as a BMI from 22.5 to 27.4, and obesity is defined as a BMI of 27.5 or higher. Morbid obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 37.5 or with BMI greater than 32.5 associated with co-morbid conditions like Type-2- Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia etc.

Obesity in particular central obesity patients are at high risk of developing diseases like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease and certain cancers including oesophageal, pancreatic, renal cell, post-menopausal breast, endometrial, cervical, and prostate cancer.

Take high protein and low calorie (low carbohydrate, low fat, high fibre) diet. Walking exercise gives a great benefit in reducing belly fat. Avoid high calorie food or beverages like chocolates, milk shakes & sweets.

Obesity is very difficult to treat. Many patients have tried multiple diets, medications and exercise regimens that had results that did not last. Surgery to promote weight loss by (Bariatric Surgery) restricting food intake and interrupting digestive processes is a good option for clinically severe / Morbid obesity patients that have been unsuccessful with other weight loss treatments.

Educational activities are more important in rural areas to recover the suffering people uniformly from obesity. Creating bariatric surgical awareness is also more important in rural than urban areas to make people understand the benefits of bariatric surgery in morbid obese patients so that they utilise the services with knowledge and without hesitance.