Size DOES matter

This happened about a couple of years ago when I attended my friend's (school classmate) wedding at Gobichettipalayam near Erode in Tamilnadu. Many of my bum chums had turned up and after the reception on the evening prior to the marriage we went to his guest house at Hasanur, which nestles on the sylvan hills on the Sathyamangalam-Chamrajnagar highway. As usual we were enjoying some first class scotch and some light natured banter. We attended the marriage early next morning and sober as we were, the topics ranged from childhood crushes to investments.

One of my friends came up with a question for me. "If there was one lifestyle modification that would help us to prevent disease and lead a good quality of life, what would it be?" I said, "Avoid junk and fatty food, exercise regularly and partake meals in the proper timings to avoid becoming obese." After some pensive moments everyone thought I was a valid point made.

To most people, the term "obesity" means to be very overweight. Health professionals define "overweight" as an excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. "Obesity" specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as bodybuilders or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese.

In recent years, body mass index (BMI) has become the medical standard used to measure overweight and obesity. BMI uses a mathematical formula based on a person's height and weight. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a "pear" shape. Men usually build up fat around their bellies, giving them more of an "apple" shape. Of course some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, especially after menopause. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches have a higher health risk because of their fat distribution.

The causes of obesity are varied. They may include:

*Genetic factors
*Environmental factors-this includes lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and his or her level of physical activity
*Psychological factors
*Hypothyroidism
*Cushing's syndrome
*Depression, and certain neurological problems

Of the above, the one which can be easily modified is the lifestyle changes and ofcourse the other pathological conditions that lead to obesity can be treated. Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a health hazard. Approximately 280,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity.

Diseases and health problems linked to obesity include:

* Diabetes Mellitus(type 2)
* Heart disease
* High blood pressure, and stroke
* Various types of cancers in men and women
* Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
* Liver disease.
* Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.
* Gout, another disease affecting the joints.
* Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep.
* Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Obese patients were more likely to die from cancer, despite it being picked up early.The research was presented at a meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.The study also showed that breast cancer was more likely to spread to other parts of the body if the patient was obese.

Food and drink caused as many as 80,000 cases of cancer each year in the UK of which a third of the cases could be blamed on obesity and over-consumption of alcohol. Unlike many of the other established risk factors for the disease, obesity is, potentially, something we can change.

According to researchers in Atlanta, USA, becoming obese reduces a man's sperm count below the level needed to fertilise an egg. Even if he does manage to fertilise his partner's eggs there is a far greater chance of miscarriage because the quality of the sperm is reduced, the researchers said.

Obesity experts recommend you try to lose weight if you have two or more of the following:

* Family history of certain chronic diseases.
* Pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, high blood pressure levels or high blood sugar levels
* "Apple" shape.

The method of treatment depends on your level of obesity, overall health condition, and motivation to lose weight. Treatment may include a combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and sometimes weight-loss drugs. In some cases of severe obesity, gastrointestinal surgery may be recommended. Remember, weight control is a life-long effort.