Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which the body stores so much fat that the risk of other conditions increases. Obesity can negatively affect health.

When do you have obesity?

Obesity means severe overweight. This can be calculated using the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a number that indicates the relationship between height and weight. A BMI above 30 is considered obesity. If you are short and muscular, your BMI may also be higher, which does not necessarily mean you have obesity. Click here to calculate your BMI.

What are the consequences of obesity?

Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as:

• Type 2 diabetes.
• Heart problems.
• High blood pressure.
• Sleep apnea.
• Certain forms of cancer.
• Shorter life expectancy.
• Physical complaints affecting the feet, ankles, knees, hips and back.
• Reduced stamina and becoming tired quickly.

What causes obesity?

People with obesity generally consume more energy than they use through physical activity. Heredity or genetic predisposition may play a role.

The body needs energy for basic functions such as circulating blood, controlling the brain and operating the organs. This is called the resting metabolism and is expressed in calories. The basal calorie requirement is the amount of energy needed to get through a day without additional physical exertion.

Daily activities and movement also require energy. Adding this to the basal calorie requirement gives the total number of calories needed each day. If you consume more than this, you take in more energy than you need and may gradually gain weight.

On average, women need 2000 calories per day and men 2500, although this depends on age and lifestyle. You can calculate your approximate daily calorie needs here.

Heredity
Heredity may also play a role. Some people use more energy because they have a faster metabolism. Body composition is also important: muscles use more calories at rest than fat tissue. Despite these factors, the main problem is often still eating too much.

Other causes
In exceptional cases, obesity may be caused by a metabolic disease, medication or a psychological condition.

How does age affect obesity?

Age itself does not cause obesity. However, resting metabolism decreases as we age, so fewer calories are needed to maintain basic body functions.

Resting metabolism is partly determined by hormones. This is why people around menopause may report weight gain and difficulty losing weight. It is therefore important to eat less and/or exercise more as we age.

What are the risk factors for obesity?

Excessive and unhealthy eating is the biggest cause of obesity. Other risk factors include:

• Eating disorder.
  Problems with eating can disrupt metabolism. Alternating periods of very little food with normal or excessive eating may cause the body to store extra fat.
• Eating too many carbohydrates.
  Excess carbohydrates, especially sugar, can disrupt fat storage.
• Stress.
  Long-term stress can cause cortisol to build up. Cortisol increases fat storage and appetite.
• Insufficient sleep.
  Poor sleep can prevent recovery and increase cortisol. Night workers more often have overweight.
• Hormone-disrupting substances.
  Medications or toxic substances can disrupt hormonal balance.
• Quitting smoking.
  Smoking suppresses appetite, and food may taste better after quitting.

What can you do about obesity?

Pay attention to what and how much you eat. The calorie content is listed on nearly every product in the supermarket, so check the label, even for foods that seem healthy.

Tips

• Pay attention to calorie intake.
• Get moving and stay active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and cycle to work, for example.
• Find a sport you enjoy. You are more likely to keep doing an activity you enjoy.
• Prevent stress. During stressful periods, schedule relaxing activities such as exercise, reading, music or another hobby.

If you have obesity, it is best to seek help with weight loss. A dietitian or nutrition consultant can help. Trying random diets is not advisable because the body still needs the right nutrients. Extremely restricting calories is also not always wise.

Exercise
In addition to nutrition, exercise is important for weight loss. To determine which movement or sport is right for your body, make an appointment with a physical therapist. They can advise you about suitable exercise and help prevent injuries when you start a sport.

Many physical therapy practices offer special exercise programs for people with obesity. These allow you to work on your weight in a group with others in the same situation under the guidance of a physical therapist.