Carrying excess body fat is a threat to good health and an increasing threat to the Nation. 

Who is obese?
                         
Obesity is defined in scientific terms as being a state where the BMI is in excess of 30. This figure is estimated by dividing the weight of the patient, in kilograms, by the height in metres, squared.

> Calculate your BMI

The normal range of BMI is said to be 20 to 25, overweight is 25 to 30, whilst over 30 is defined as obesity. When the figure is in excess of 40 it is said the patient is morbidly obese whereas in excess of 50 is a state of super obese.
 


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Increased obesity often means increasingly poor health

Statistics with relation to major medical, physical and psychological problems start to spiral up once the weight approaches a BMI of 35 with a much greater deterioration in health as that figure climbs.

Both life expectancy and quality of life are seriously affected by rising weight with the risk of respiratory, heart and digestive problems. Diabetes mellitus, sugar diabetes, is greatly induced in obesity and this complicates and magnifies all of the previous conditions.

Respiratory disease, often complicated by a previous smoking history, is common in obese people with secondary sleep apnoea interfering with work efficiency and putting the patient's brain at risk of hypoxia or low oxygen levels.

Orthopaedic or joint problems from wear and tear are magnified by age and weight and a diminished level of activity leads to further weight gain and a vicious cycle continues. Chronic back pain, hip problems and knee joint destruction are a few of the very common problems of the very heavy person.

It’s not all bad.  Good health can again be part of your life.              

Obese patients remain a great risk to themselves whereas reversal of this state will return to near normal the life span and general health.

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HOW MANY OF THESE HEALTH PROBLEMS CURRENTLY AFFECT  YOU?

Make a list: 
What other health problems do you suffer as a result of being overweight?
 eg:  chafing

It’s good to look back to see the improvements in your health after you’ve lost weight.

Discrimination against obese people is widespread and ranges from the size of seating in theatres and public transport to the availability of fashionable clothing in stores.                                 

Psychological aspects of obesity generally lead to a generalized depression and most antidepressant therapy actually increases the appetite and magnifies weight problems. A fear of rejection, of ridicule and the difficulty in mobility then lead to agoraphobia or fear of open spaces and this adds to the isolation felt by the obese. Embarrassment of size and lack of agility interferes with the patient's ability to work and increases the risks in the work place of injury and efficiency.
         
Body bulk also interferes with a person's ability to reach various parts of the body from tying shoelaces to personal cleaning at the toilet, for example. Body creases become inflamed and develop fungal infection and collections of dead skin and sweat leading to poor hygiene, body odour and a further cause for embarrassment and rejection.

Women, in particular, become isolated by these factors and their feeling of self-worth is generally greatly diminished leading to a downward spiral of their social position, personal achievement levels and interaction with family members and friends. Fertility is greatly diminished by obesity with the incidence of the polycystic ovary condition being almost exclusively in this group.