OVERWEIGHT
The defining characteristic of being overweight is carrying excess body fat. This could be due to inherited or acquired factors. Long-term treatment and management are required to achieve and maintain weight loss. Maintaining the correct weight for your height is one of the most important ways to keep your body healthy and attractive. |
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF BEING OVERWEIGHT
· Excessive calorie and food intake
· Decreased physical activity
· Genetics
· Family history of obesity
· Eating when bored, depressed or frustrated
MEASUREMENT OF OBESITY
You can check if you are overweight or obese by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) or measuring your waist circumference.
What is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?
The body mass index assesses a person's body weight relative to height, to provide an estimate of total body fat.
If you know your weight and height, you may use one of several BMI calculators available online, such as www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/healthyweight/bmicalculator/
(Weight in kg)
Body Mass Index (BMI) =
(Height in m)2
The BMI score means the following:
BMI Score | Classification | Health Risk |
Below 18.5 | Underweight | Some risk |
18.5-24.9 | Ideal | Normal |
25.0-29.9 | Overweight | Moderate risk |
30.0 and above | Obese | High risk |
Waist circumference
The risk of developing diseases such as diabetes or heart problems can be indicated by the waist circumference. People who carry more fat around their waist (‘apple-shaped’) are at higher risk than those with more fat on the hips and thighs (‘pear-shaped).
HEALTH RISKS
Conditions which may worsen as your weight increases include:
· Heart disease
· Stroke
· High blood pressure
· Gallstones
· Diabetes
· High blood cholesterol
· Gout
· Lower back pain
· Disturbed breathing during sleep (apnoea)
· Osteoarthritis of the spine, hips, or knees
· Fertility problems
· Complications during pregnancy
· Liver disease
· Certain cancers (i.e.: breast, colorectal)
SELF CARE GUIDE
· Dietary changes
§ Eat healthy. Limit the amount of high energy or high fat foods and drinks consumed, such as white sugar, pizza, burgers, cakes, chocolate, or carbonated soft drinks.
§ Slow and steady weight loss of 1/2 to 1 kilogram a week is considered the safest way to lose weight and the best way to keep it off permanently.
§ Eat slowly and stop as soon as you feel full.
§ Avoid drastic and unrealistic diet changes, such as crash diets, because they are unlikely to maintain long-term weight loss.
· Increase physical activity
§ Get 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise 3 to 5 times a week, such as brisk walking, cycling, dancing, stair-climbing or swimming.
§ Start slowly by using everyday events to increase your activity (e.g., park the car 10 minutes away from work and walk).
TREATMENT
SELF MEDICATION GUIDE- Medication for Overweight People
(please click on the medication name below for further information):
¨ Orlistat
OTHER TREATMENT
· Alternative therapies (acupuncture, hypnosis)
· Surgery (for very obese individuals)
BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS
- You will look and feel better
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced blood sugar
- Reduced triglycerides (the ‘bad’ cholesterol)
· Increased High Density Lipoproteins (HDL: the ‘good’ cholesterol)
REFERENCES
1. Website: Self Care Guide, Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia http://www.pharmacy.gov.my/self_care_guide
2. Website: MayoClinic.com, 05.10.2010 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/ DS00314/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
3. Website: MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000403. htm
4. Website: Altavista http://us.yhs4.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=altavista&itag= ody&q= overweight&kgs=1&kls=0
5. Australian Pharmacy Self Care Health Information 2008.