Obesity is a state of excess body fat in the body. It commonly occurs due to overconsumption and underutilisation of consumed calories. Multiple factors are responsible for obesity. An increase in the consumption of junk food, lack of physical activity, and social and genetic factors are commonly responsible for the increase in the weight of an individual.
Taking a high-calorie diet with no physical activity leads to an increase in the fat deposited in the body. Calories derived from a diet are meant to supply energy to various body parts for their functions. When not spent, they are deposited in the form of fat.
Other nutrients like proteins, when consumed in excess, are also converted to fat in the body. Excess consumption of fried food, alcohol, and soft beverages, results in obesity in both children and adults. Increasing means of transport, and machines to replace manual work have also contributed to growing obesity in the modern world by reducing the amount of physical activity done.
Sitting for long hours continuously as it is with desk workers in an office can lead to central obesity. The influence of hormonal changes induces central obesity in middle-aged women. Diseases like hypothyroidism, and adrenal tumours cause an increase in the weight of an individual.
Corticosteroids or thyroid hormones can cause obesity after use for a long time. Depression per se can cause a person to eat more and become obese.
Whatever the reason, obesity makes one susceptible to diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, etc.
An obese individual tends to sweat more and hence becomes more prone to fungal infections of the underarms and groin.
As the body weight increases, body cells get adapted to that weight. This induces increased demand for more calories, which creates a craving for more food. An overweight person finds it more difficult to walk or run much or do any kind of physical activity. Thus, a vicious circle is created where a person finds it difficult to check the increasing weight.
Obesity is, therefore, better prevented than treated. Avoiding fats and carbohydrates in a diet is a good measure to be initiated if one wants to prevent obesity. Intake of plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables provides energy to the body and prevents obesity. Drinking one to two litres of water every day is a good practice.
Excess consumption of soft beverages and alcohol should be avoided. Adequate physical exercise is a must to keep the body healthy and ward off extra fat.
Those who have become obese and want to reduce the excess fat should start doing regular physical exercise. If somebody is very busy with no spare time for exercise, he or she should try to walk to the office, or for any other work, like going to the market, bank, etc. This compulsory walking will be beneficial as compared to no walking at all. One can even walk around the office premises or at home.
Muscle-building exercises are not a good choice for one who wants to lose weight. Any exercise should start low and increase slowly. One should not exercise to the point of getting exhausted, otherwise there will be increased hunger and more intake of food.
Doing some physical work is also a good form of physical exercise. One who wants to become slim should be cautious to see that weight is reduced slowly.
Crash dieting and drastic reduction of weight are bad as they cause weakness. Cosmetically, it is damaging more so in middle-aged and elderly persons. When the fat over the face and limbs is removed, the overlying skin gets wrinkled, giving an ungainly appearance.
Obesity is not a disease by itself but a precursor of many diseases. Therefore, it should be taken seriously and adequate measures should be applied to correct it.
Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine.