A Closer Look at Obesity

Causes, Effects and Prevention

Feature

By Dr. Sajjad Sherally Fazel

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess

body fat has accumulated to the extent that it
may cause negative effects to ones health. Obese
people are more prone to heart disease, type 2
diabetes, cancer and stroke. 39% of adults are
considered to be overweight worldwide. A study
in Dar s Salaam has shown that majority of the
obese people, are unaware of their condition.
1. BMI & Obesity
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a useful tool in
categorizing a patient as Obese or not. It is
calculated by taking the subjects weight and
dividing it by the square of their height. Generally,
a BMI of above 25 and above 30 is when a
person is considered to be overweight & obese
respectively.
2. Obesity & Other Diseases
Obesity is a common risk factor for numerous
diseases, some of which are;
- Ischemic heart disease - Cellulitis - Diabetes
mellitus - Stroke

- Congestive heart failure

- Depression

- Intertrigo - Infertility

3. Causes of Obesity
Obesity can be caused by numerous factors
including; genetics, hormonal, insufficient sleep,
medications, pregnancy or an underlying medical
condition. However, the major cause for obesity
is an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. A lot
of people eat an unhealthy diet which is full of fat
and high in calories. This combined with a lot of
inactivity, less or no exercise leads in the buildup
of the fat stores in the body and the increase in
calories leading to obesity over time.
4. Prevention of Obesity
There are 3 main areas which bring about
prevention of obesity;
Dietary Changes
Exercise
Behavioral Changes

Dietary Changes
Dietary changes are the key towards losing weight.
A diet full of healthy foods and low on fats is a
good start. It is advisable to meet a dietician and
reduce the calorie intake. Generally, a reduction of
1,200 to 1,500 calories in a diet is recommended.
Another way to reduce calorie intake is having
foods with low energy density, these are foods that
have large volume and low calories in proportion
such as; fruits and vegetables. Avoiding full-fat
foods and foods high in carbohydrate will also
help reduce the total calorie intake drastically.
Exercise
Exercise is a key factor and lack of it is what causes
obesity in many people. Obese people need to
get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every
day. This includes; brisk walking, swimming and
dancing. Small changes like using the stairs instead

of the elevator and walking to the nearest local

store instead of taking a bike would also aid in
burning calories.
Behavioral changes
Behavioral changes are mostly overlooked but
are important in losing weight. Scheduling time
for exercise and getting enough time to sleep
are all key factors. Late-night eating should be
discontinued. Some people end up over-eating
due to stress and depression. Many children
have the bad habit of eating full-fat foods such
as cheese crisps and fried potato crisps while
watching television this causes obesity in
many children. Hence, this behavior should be
discouraged and replaced with better eating
habits. The help of a counsellor and support
groups should be taken to help with emotional
and behavioral factors related to eating.

Dr. Sajjad Sherally Fazel | sajjadfazel@hotmail.com