Signs of Obesity
Signs of obesity :
• Increased weight
• Thickness around the midsection
• Obvious areas of fat deposits
• Poor linear growth (hypothyroidism, cushing’s, prader-willi syndrome)
• Dysmorphic features (genetic disorders, including prader-willi syndrome)
• Acanthosis nigricans (NIDDM, insulin resistance)
• Hirsutism and excessive acne (polycystic ovary syndrome)
• Violaceous striae (Cushing’s syndrome)
• Papilledema, cranial nerve VI paralysis (pseudomotor cerebri)
• Tonsillar tenderness (Sleep apnea)
• Abdominal tenderness (Gall bladder diseae, GERD, NAFLD)
• Hepatomegaly (Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseae (NAFLD))
• Underscended testicle (prader-willi syndrome)
• Limited hip range of motion (Slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
• Lower leg boeing (Blount’s disease)
Symptoms of obesity :
• Anxciety, school avoidance, social isolation (Depression)
• Polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss (Type 2 diabetes mellitus)
• Headaches (Pseudo tumor cerebri)
• Night breathing difficulties (Sleep apnea,hypovertilation syndrome, asthma)
• Daytime sleepiness (sleep apnea, hypovertilation syndrome, depression)
• Abdominal pain (Gastroeophageal reflux, Gall bladder disease, constipation)
• Hip or knee pain (Slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
• Oligo menorrhea or amenorrhea (Polycystic ovary syndrome)
After knowing symptoms and signs of obesity we must know the definition,causes, risk factors,and how to treat obesity.
Obesity is an abnormally high proportion of body fat. A person becomes obese when calorie intake is consistently greater than the number of calories burned through activity and basic metabolic processes.
Several factors can influence obesity, including:
• Genetic tendency
• Biologic factors (such as the amount and activity of certain chemicals in the body)
• Medications (corticosteroids, antidepressants, and antipsychotics)
• Under active thyroid
• Cushing’s disease
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Froehlich’s syndrome
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition, including :
• Advancing age
• Quitting smoking
• Working varied shifts
• Decreased activity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Imbalance of excess calories versus decreased activity
Obesity is difficult to treat. Cultural factors, personal habits, lifestyle, and genetics all affect obesity treatment.
Approaches to weight loss include:
Keep a Food Diary
Keep track of everything you eat and drink.
Increase Physical Activity and Exercise
Ask your doctor about how to begin an appropriate exercise program. Limit the amount of time you spend watching television and using the computer. This is especially important for children.
Reduce Total Calories Eaten Per Day
Your doctor or a dietitian can determine what your total calorie intake should be, based on:
• Your current weight
• Your weight loss goals
Reduce Dietary Fat
Keep fat intake under 35% of total calories eaten daily. New guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program have increased fat intake to allow a maximum of 35% fat, a recommendation that is especially helpful for obese people since they are prone to pre-diabetes.
Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy may help you understand:
• When you tend to overeat
• Why you tend to overeat
• How to combat overeating tendencies
Weight Loss Programs
Research on the effectiveness of weight loss programs is limited. They do seem to work for some people, however.
Team Up with a Partner
Some studies suggest that a partner or group may help you improve your diet and fitness.
Medications
Medications for weight loss are available, but some have led to serious complications. Do not use over-the-counter or herbal remedies for weight loss unless your doctor monitors you for side effects. Your doctor can make recommendations about prescription weight loss drugs.
Bariatric Surgery
Surgical procedures reduce the size of the stomach and rearrange the digestive tract. The smaller stomach can only hold a tiny portion of food at a time. Operations include gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding. These procedures are only an option for people who are dangerously overweight, due to the potential for serious complications.
The best thing to do is to pay attention on signs of obesity.
Posted at August 14, 2009, Filed Under
