Obesity is a medical condition where a high amount of body fat increases the opportunity of establishing medical problems.
Classes of Obesity According to BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is calculated using height and weight. It is used to approximate body fat.
Beginning at 25.0, the higher your BMI, the higher is your danger of establishing obesity-related illness. These ranges of BMI are utilized to explain levels of danger:
- Overweight (not obese), if BMI is 25.0 to 29.9.
- Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9.
- Class 2 (moderate-risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9.
- Class 3 (high-risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0.
Complete information about BMI gradation shown in the table:
| BMI | Classification |
|---|---|
| < 18.5 | underweight |
| 18.5–24.9 | normal weight |
| 25.0–29.9 | overweight |
| 30.0–34.9 | class I obesity |
| 35.0–39.9 | class II obesity |
| ≥ 40.0 | class III obesity |
Who Is in Danger?
People with obesity have a greater opportunity of establishing these health problems:
- High blood glucose (sugar) or diabetes.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure).
- High blood cholesterol and triglycerides (dyslipidemia, or high blood fats).
- Heart attacks due to coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke.
- Bone and joint problems, more weight puts pressure on the bones and joints. This can lead to osteoarthritis, a disease that triggers joint pain and stiffness.
- Stopping breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). This can trigger daytime fatigue or drowsiness, poor attention, and issues at work.
- Gallstones and liver issues.
- Some cancers.
Three things can be used to identify if an individual’s body fat provides a greater opportunity of establishing obesity-related illness:
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Waist size.
- Other risk elements the person has (a threat element is anything that increases your possibility of getting a disease).
Body Mass Index
Body mass index (BMI) is a procedure of body fat based upon your weight in relation to your height, and uses to a lot of adult males and females aged 20 and over. For kids aged 2 and over, BMI percentile is the very best evaluation of body fat.
BMI does not measure body fat straight. However, research study indicates that BMI associates to direct procedures of body fat such as underwater weighing and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and is thought about an economical and easy-to-perform option for these.
Three types of obesity we already described above.
Waist Size
Women with a waist size greater than 35 inches (89 centimeters) and men with a waist size higher than 40 inches (102 centimeters) have an increased threat for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Individuals with “apple-shaped” bodies (waist is larger than the hips) also have an increased threat for these conditions.
Danger Factors
Having a threat element does not suggest that you will get the disease. However it does increase the chance that you will. Some threat aspects, like age, race, or household history can’t be changed.
The more threat elements you have, the more likely it is that you will establish the disease or illness.
Your danger of establishing illness such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems increases if you’re obese and have these danger factors:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure).
- High blood cholesterol or triglycerides.
- High blood sugar (sugar), an indication of type 2 diabetes.
These other danger elements for cardiovascular disease and stroke are not brought on by obesity:
- Having a family member under the age of 50 with heart problem.
- Being physically non-active or having a sedentary lifestyle.
- Smoking cigarettes or utilizing tobacco products of any kind.
Bottom Line
You can manage a lot of these danger aspects by altering your way of life. If you have obesity, your health care company can help you begin a weight-loss program. A beginning goal of losing 5% to 10% of your current weight will reduce your danger of developing obesity-related diseases.
