How is obesity diagnosed?
Dr Beza: Obesity is a measure of the amount of fat in our body that is a direct measure.
It is measured in a number of indirect dimensions. One of the methods we use most often
Body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by comparing body weight (in kilograms) to height (in meters).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is classified as follows:-
- BMI 18.5 - 24.9 (Normal)
- BMI 25-29 Overweight
- BMI 30 and over 30 obese.
There are other measures of obesity, which is what part of the body fat mass is increased, and from heart problems it is directly related to.
What are the risk factors for obesity?
Dr Beza: It can be caused by environmental and genetic factors. But most of all An activity-free lifestyle, taking in excess calories, eating sweets, medicines, Hormonal problems, contraceptives and so on can be mentioned. Therefore, it is impossible to improve or change the obesity caused by genetic factors, which is 30-50% by itself causing existing obesity. So far, the study of a gene that is largely responsible for obesity is not identified.
How prevalent is obesity?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, there are over 1.5 billion people in the world who are obese. Of these, more than 17% are children, and 30% are adults. Studies now show that one third of American children and adolescents are the victims of obesity.
What about childhood obesity?
Dr Beza: Children are classified as obese by their body mass index (BMI). When they are become adult, being obese teenager is a risk factor for becoming obese, and in any case it is an indicator of death associated with obesity.
How serious is obesity?
Dr Beza: The reason why obesity is so important is because of the risk of infections, among which;
It makes you susceptible to infectious disease, insomnia, and high blood pressure. In addition to the fatty liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, cataracts, heart valve problems, diabetes it has an increased risk of cholesterol disorders, pancreas, and cancer.
What about obesity and cancer risk?
Dr Beza: Cancer occurs every year due to obesity. That is 15-20 percent of cancer related deaths are related to obesity.
What types of cancers are more related to obesity?
Dr Beza: - Some of the cancers more related to obesity are; breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, throat cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer.
Are there any studies on the link between obesity and cancer?
Dr Beza: Over the years there have been various studies showing the relationship of obesity and cancer and there are still many studies underway. Most studies show that obesity increases the risk of developing different types of cancer. Also obesity causes associated diseases in people who have recovered from cancer. For example: heart disease, stroke, diabetes.
How is obesity compared to other factors causing cancer?
Dr Beza: According to various studies, obesity increases cancer risk compared to cigarettes. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer and the associated risk of death by 33%. Studies show that Men with BMI over 35 kg / m2 and women over 30 kg / m2 with colon cancer have bad consequences. Hence, obesity also exposes to advanced prostate cancer. It also reduces the response to cancer treatment and brings recurrence apart from doing so, it increases the risk of dying.
What are the relation between the diet and lifestyle of obese?
Dr Beza: As I have pointed out above, obesity and lifestyles in society are highly related. People should be aware of them and avoid the following habits:
- Lack of adequate physical activity, such as sitting and watching TV for hours, with taking excessive calories
- Eating excess energy, consuming low-carbon carbohydrates and fatty foods, especially
- Eating plenty of saturated fats; such as potato chips which are so tasty.
- Excessive sugary soft drinks, cakes, cookies, ice cream, are more related
What about the relationship between obesity and cholesterol?
Dr Beza: Obesity is associated with increased cholesterol and sugar, which results in the production of cholesterol. In addition obesity increases the risk of diabetes by:-
- Affecting the function of the hormone called insulin; i.e, inactivating the insulin receptors on our cells,
- Increasing the amount of free fatty acids in our blood, which serve as input to our liver's sugar production and the insulin that is directly in the pancreas
- The increased amount of fatty acids causing damage to insulin producing cells. For these reasons obesity increases type 2 diabetes.
What is the relationship between obesity and high cholesterol and heart diseases?
Dr Beza: Obesity is a risk factor for a variety of heart problems, including heart disease in which it raises the risk of heart attack and risk for heart rate disorders.
Is obesity related to hypertension?
Dr Beza: Obese people are at increased risk for high blood pressure. Obesity causes production of excessive catecholamines which in turn forces our kidney to retain salt and water back into the body. By doing so obesity raises the pressure in blood vessels. The other way in which obesity is related to hypertesion is that; obese people are at increased risk of damage to blood vessel walls.
How can we prevent obesity?
Dr. Beza: A major way of preventing obesity is to change lifestyle, including:-
- Reducing carbon hydration and fat loss;
- follow a balanced diet and calorie intake;
- Increase the amount of fiber in foods;
- Exercise 150 - 300 minutes a week,
- If the desired change is not achieved, use of over-the-counter drugs may help to prevent obesity.
Does obese people necessarily get cancer?
Dr Beza: -This is not completely guaranteed, because cancer is related to many factors. But studies have shown weight loss reduces the risk getting of cancer. Obesity is usually related to lack of physical activity and eating disorders and because of various diseases, everyone should recognize this and prevent it by adjusting their lifestyle.