Obesity and overweight together constitute as one of the top 10 global health problems as per the recent surveys conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).   Obesity Statistics:   1. Overweight adults in the entire world are: One billion (one hundred crore).   2. Children (under five years of age): more than 22 million.   3. By 2015 approximately overweight persons will be: 2.3 billion (230 Crores).   4. Obese people in 2007: 300 million (30 Crores). 5. By 2015 obese people will be: 700 million (70 Crores). 6. Obesity is a problem not only in developed but also in developing countries, where at present 115 million (11.5 crore), people are affected.   Obesity is an abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat mass in the body.   Over weight and obesity in adults is calculated as follows:   The body mass index (BMI= Body weight(in kg), divided by the square of the height(in meters). "Overweight" in adults is defined as, when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 25 and "obesity’’ as when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 3o.   Basic mechanism behind Obesity:   The hypothalamus, a region in the brain, regulates food intake and the metabolism process in the body. Lack of balance between calorie intake (over eating) and physical activity (less spending of calories) is the reason for Obesity and Overweight. Then the caloric surplus is converted in to fat and stored in the body as adipose tissue.   Overweight and obesity are complex problems depending upon many factors.   1. Genetic factors:   The first recessive gene involved in obesity in mice and humans was identified by Prof. Jeffrey Friedman in 1994. Today, five mutations of this gene have been identified. It appears that predisposition to obesity is caused by a complex interaction between at least 250 obesity– associated genes. This would mean that people are not equal in their risk of developing obesity.   2. Nutritional factors (in perinatal period):   phenomenon called “Metabolic programming or Metabolic imprinting” during early life ,may modulate later obesity risk.   3. Life style factors:   With more number of people consuming energy-densed food and eating often in the day, without hungry, is causing obesity.   4. Sedentary life:   Today people are leading sedentary lifestyle than did their hunter-gatherer ancestors.     Risks or diseases due to obesity are:   1. Type-2 diabetes   2. Cardiovascular (heart) disease 3. Rising of blood pressure (BP) level   4. Strokes   5. Certain types of cancers, etc.   Always keep in mind this golden word: “Longer the waist line- shorter the life line”. Source: Business line.   … [Read more...]