Unit UNIT - OBESITY AND - - Obesity and Underweight as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health”. B . . Aetiology The factors causing obesity are given below: Heredity: Heredity has a major role to play in obesity, as genes contribute to it.
The involvement of genetic factors in the development of obesity is estimated to be - %. Physical Activity: Sedentary life style with lack of an exercise schedule tends to make one obese. Obesity is more common after the age of , when physical activity generally decreases without a corresponding decrease in food consumption. Dietary Habits: Consuming high calorie food without burning off the calories leads to positive energy balance, which is one of the major contributory factor for obesity.
Eating food at a very fast rate tend to chew less and lands up eating more food. Nibbling between meals may contribute extra calories leads to obesity. Endocrine Factors: Endocrine abnormalities in conditions like hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome is often associated with obesity. Psychological Factors: Lonely, bored and depressed individuals find solace in piling on fast food and junk foods.
Affluence and Abundant availability of food: Eating out has become fashionable leading to an increased consumption of junk food which is rich in calories and short on essential nutrients. UNIT - OBESITY AND - - Obesity and Underweight . . Assessment of Obesity Standard height and weight for Indian men and women is given in Table below Body Mass Index: BMI is calculated from a person’s weight and height and it provides an indicator of body fat and is used to indicate weight categories.
BMI = Weight (Kg) / Height (m) Height Men women Weight (kg) Weight (lb) Weight (kg) Weight (lb) .52M ( ’ ”) _ _ - - .54M ( ’ ”) _ _ - - .57M ( ’ ”) - - - - .59M ( ’ ”) - - - - .62M ( ’ ”) - - - - .65M ( ’ ”) - - - - .67M ( ’ ”) -