Obesity is a chronic condition due to the accumulation of fat in the body is very high. Obesity occurs because the intake of calories is more than the activity of burning calories, so that excess calories accumulate in the form of fat. If this condition occurs for a long time, it will add weight to obesity.
The problem of obesity is increasing in the world. This is a big challenge in preventing the growth of chronic diseases in the world. Obesity is also triggered by industrial and economic growth, as well as changes in lifestyle, increased intake of nutrients from processed foods, or high-calorie diets.
Based on WHO data in 2016, about 650 million adults are obese, while 340 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years are overweight. In Indonesia alone, in 2010, it was estimated that 23% of adults were obese, and women experienced it more than men.
The problem of obesity is associated with an increasing number of deaths from heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes, and some cancers. The number of deaths of obese patients accompanied by a number of these diseases is more than patients with normal weight.
Causes of Obesity
Obesity occurs when a person consumes high-calorie foods and drinks without doing physical activity to burn those excess calories. Calories that are not used are then converted into fat in the body, thus making a person gain weight and eventually become obese. Other factors that cause obesity are:
- Hereditary or genetic factors
- Drug side effects
- Pregnancy
- Lack of sleep
- Age increase
- Certain diseases or medical problems
Obesity Diagnosis
An adult is declared obese, if the body mass index (BMI) is more than 25. The calculation is obtained by comparing weight with height. This BMI value is used to determine a person's weight is normal, under or overweight, to obesity.
Treatment of obesity is aimed at achieving and maintaining a normal and healthy body weight. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to make changes to your diet, do some ways to control your appetite, and increase physical activity. In addition, there are several other treatment methods to treat obesity, for example:
- Taking weight loss drugs
- Take counseling andsupport group to overcome psychological problems related to weight.
- Undergo bariatric surgery to treat patient obesity.
Losing weight, even in small amounts, and keeping it steady can reduce a person's risk of developing obesity-related complications. In addition to these ways, weight loss can also be done the traditional way.
Obesity Complications
This accumulation of body fat increases the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Obesity can also lead to impaired quality of life and psychological problems, such as lack of self-confidence to depression.