Obesity : an overview

Abstract EN

Obesity is probably one of the oldest metabolic disorders.

It is defined as excessive accumulation of body fat1.

People in a society become obese as soon as enough food and leisure are available to cause an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.

Forty million adult Americans weigh more than 20% above their desirable weight.

Its prevalence is increasing in all major race/sex groups including younger adults aged 25 to 44.

It is also assuming a significant proportion in the developing countries2.

Obesity is, therefore, becoming a more important risk factor for the development of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

A man is considered obese when his weight is 20% or more over the maximum desirable weight for his height and a woman is obese when her weight is 25% or more over the maximum desirable weight for her height.

In children it is 72.5% in boys and 73.2% fat in girls is considered obesity3.

Men 20% above desirable weight show an overall increase of 20% in the likelihood of death from all causes, a 25% increase in death from coronary artery disease, a 10% increase from stroke, twice the risk of diabetes, and a 40% increase in gall bladder disease.

Gallbladder pathology and endometrial cancer are more common among obese females.

In general, the life expectancy is shorter.

A less well known complication of obesity among females is infertility.

Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese.

The clinical approach to the management of obesity can be similar to the management of other chronic disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia or most forms of hypertension.

Lifelong dietary therapy and possibly long-term pharmacological or behavioural treatment would be required to control obesity successfully.

Given the high rate of maintenance of a steady body weight may be appropriate therapeutic goals.

The treatment of obesity should be individualized depending on each patient's age, BMI (Body Mass Index), and the coexistence of other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia which have been linked to obesity.

This article presents an overview of obesity including: etiology, prevalence, indices of measurement, health implications and prevention