DEFINATIONS
•
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height
that is commonly used in classifying overweight and obesity in adult
populations and individuals. It is
defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in
meters (kg/m2).
•
BMI provides the most useful population-level measure of
overweight and obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of
adults. However, it should be considered as a rough guide because it may not
correspond to the same degree of fatness in different individuals.
•
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines
"overweight" as a BMI equal to or more than 25, and
"obesity" as a BMI equal to or more than 30. These cut-off points
provide a benchmark for individual assessment, but there is evidence that risk
of chronic disease in population increases progressively from a BMI of 21.
CAUSES OBESITY AND
OVERWEIGHT?
The fundamental cause of obesity and
overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed on one hand, and
calories expended on the other hand.
Global increases in overweight and obesity
are attributable to a number of factors including:
- a global shift in
diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat
and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients; and
- a trend towards
decreased physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of
many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing
urbanization.
COMMON HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY
- Overweight and
obesity lead to serious health consequences.
- Risk increases progressively as BMI
increases.
- Raised body mass
index is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as:
- Cardiovascular
disease (mainly heart disease and stroke) - already the world's number one
cause of death, killing 17 million people each year.
- Childhood obesity is
associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in
adulthood.
- Diabetes (Type 2)
- Increased risk of arthritis
- Poor sleep or waking up
intermittently
Many low- and middle-income countries
are now facing a "double burden" of disease:
While they continue to deal with the
problems of infectious disease and under-nutrition, at the same time they are
experiencing a rapid upsurge in chronic disease risk factors such as obesity
and overweight, particularly in urban settings.
It is not uncommon to find
under-nutrition and obesity existing side-by-side within the same country, the
same community and even within the same household.
HOW CAN THE BURDEN OF
OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY BE REDUCED?
Overweight and obesity, as well as
their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable.
At the individual level, people can:
•
achieve energy balance and a healthy weight;
•
limit energy intake from total fats
•
shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated
fats increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole
grains and nuts
•
limit the intake of
sugars
•
Increase physical activity - at least 30 minutes of regular,
moderate-intensity activity on most days.
•
More activity may be required for weight control.
The implementation of these
recommendations requires sustained commitment. You must eat healthy foods to
make you fit and stay active every time, everyday.
NB It
is very important that you follow up on the Lamplighter questionnaire. Visit the
clinic for post health week test. Remember health is wealth.
BMI (BODY MASS INDEX) TABLE
This table
will help you to know relatively after calculation of your BMI whether you are
overweight or obese
|
CATEGORY
|
BMI (kg/m2)
|
Health Risks
|
|
Underweight
|
Below 18.5
|
Light
|
|
Normal Weight
|
18.5-24.9
|
Healthy
|
|
Pre-Obese
|
25.0-29.9
|
Light
|
|
Obese Level 1
|
30.0-34-9
|
More serious
|
|
Obese Level 2
|
35.0-39.9
|
Serious
|
|
Morbidity obese 3
|
40.0 & above
|
Very serious
|
BMI= Weigh (kg)
Height (m) x Height (m)
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