An introduction to obesity:
·
Obesity is
a medical condition in which excess body fat has
accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health, leading
to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems.
·
Obesity
increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart
disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types
of cancer, and osteoarthritis.
·
Obesity
is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food
energy intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility,
although a few cases are caused primarily
by genes, endocrine disorders, medications or psychiatric
illness.
·
Dieting and physical
exercise are the mainstays of treatment for obesity.
·
Diet
quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods such
as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary
fiber.
- Obesity is difficult to treat
and has a high relapse rate. Greater than 95% of those who lose weight
regain the weight within five years.
·
Even
though medications and diets can help, the treatment of obesity cannot be a
short-term "fix" but has to be a life-long commitment to proper diet
habits, increased physical activity, and regular exercise.
·
The
goal of treatment should be to achieve and maintain a "healthier
weight," not necessarily an ideal weight.
·
Even
a modest weight loss of 5%-10% of initial weight and the long-term
maintenance of that weight loss can bring significant health benefits by
lowering blood pressure and lowering the risks of diabetes and heart disease.
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