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| Obesity: A Weighty Health Problem |
| Dietary and lifestyle factors are main culprits |
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Njei Moses Timah (njemotim)  |
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Published 2006-08-27 16:00 (KST) |
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During the conference of the International Association of Agricultural Economists, which took place in Gold Coast, Australia, on Aug. 12 to Aug. 18, it was revealed that more than one billion overweight people live in the world today, a number that now exceeds the 800 million who are undernourished. Terminologies like "obesity epidemics" and "globesity" are now used to describe this phenomenon, which is rapidly gaining ground.
Obesity is a medical condition that is characterized by the storage of excess fat tissue under the skin, around the joints and organs. Obese people are more susceptible to certain diseases. The following are obesity-related diseases: Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, gallstones, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancers like colon, rectum, and prostrate cancer.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference are used to measure overweight and obesity. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height (meters) squared.
Overweight: BMI ≥ 25. Obese: BMI ≥ 30. For example, my current weight is 90 kilograms and my height is 1.66 meters. My height squared (1.66 x 1.66) is 2.7556. Therefore, my BMI is 32.66 (90 ÷ 2.7556). I am therefore obese and must initiate actions to reduce my weight. Alternatively, a waist circumference for women greater than 85 centimeters (35 inches) or for men greater than 102 centimeters (40 inches) is considered high risk.
The cause of obesity involves the interplay of multiple factors such as genetic predisposition, diet, and physical activity. Researchers, however, generally agree that the overwhelming number of overweight and obese cases is linked to dietary and lifestyle factors characterized by increased calorie consumption and reduced physical activity. As more and more people consume high calorie "junk foods" and spend more and more time performing sedentary activities like browsing the Internet, playing video games, or watching television, the obesity epidemics can only increase.
Another less-publicized probable cause of obesity is the role played by the food additive E-621, or MSG (monosodium glutamate). Scientists in Spain have established a link between MSG and increased appetite. The substance MSG (sometimes called hydrolyzed vegetable protein), which is used by the food industry as a flavor enhancer, was found to produce a 40 percent increase in appetite in experiments on rats.
Critics of the food industry charge that MSG is used in such a way as to get consumers hooked to their products. More militant critics like John and Michelle Erb, co-authors of "The Slow Poisoning of America," believe that the food industry uses MSG as "their own brand of nicotine designed to addict you to their products."
It is believed that MSG could be a key factor behind obesity, particularly in children. Statistics show that from 1980 to 2000, the number of obese children and teenagers in the U.S. almost tripled. Health authorities around the world are raising alarm signals as the faltering health of fat people weigh heavily on health budgets. The projections for the future are even more alarming.
So what advice do I have for my fellow obese friends? A nutritionally balanced and low calorie diet (ranging from 400 to 1500 calories per day depending on degree of obesity) is recommended. Consult a nutrition expert if possible. Physical activity is paramount. The best way to achieve long-term weight control is to exercise regularly. Your doctor will have to decide whether you can opt for other weight management procedures like medication and surgery. There are advances in the research for a vaccine to manage obesity but eventual clinical use is still years down the road.
It requires a lot of discipline to shed off extra kilograms and it requires even more discipline and effort to maintain the reduced weight. Do not aim at weight reduction targets that are not easy to attain lest you become frustrated. Remember that studies show that a 5 percent to 10 percent reduction in body weight may be enough to significantly improve medical conditions associated with obesity such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension even though you may still be overweight.
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©2006 OhmyNews
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