OBESITY

Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight.

The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. Dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes can help you lose weight. Prescription medications and weight-loss surgery are additional options for treating obesity.

Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Your body mass index is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in meters (m) squared

For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. However, BMI doesn't directly measure body fat, so some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obese category even though they don't have excess body fat. Ask your doctor if your BMI is a problem.

Causes

Although there are genetic, behavioral and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through exercise and normal daily activities. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.

CausesObesity can sometimes be traced to a

medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, and other diseases and conditions. However, these disorders are rare and, in general, the principal causes of obesity are:O Inactivity. If you're not very active, you

don't burn as many calories. With a sedentary lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories every day than you use through exercise and normal daily activities.

CausesO Unhealthy diet and eating habits. Weight

gain is inevitable if you regularly eat more calories than you burn. And most Americans' diets are too high in calories and are full of fast food and high-calorie beverages.

O Genetics. Your genes may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. Genetics may also play a role in how efficiently your body converts food into energy and how your body burns calories during exercise.

CausesO Family lifestyle. Obesity tends to run in

families. If one or both of your parents are obese, your risk of being obese is increased. That's not just because of genetics. Family members tend to share similar eating and activity habits.

O Medical problems. In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing's syndrome and other conditions. Medical problems, such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain.

CausesO Social and economic issues. Research has

linked social and economic factors to obesity. Avoiding obesity is difficult if you don't have safe areas to exercise. Similarly, you may not have been taught healthy ways of cooking, or you may not have money to buy healthier foods. In addition, the people you spend time with may influence your weight — you're more likely to become obese if you have obese friends or relatives.

O Age. Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity. 

CausesO Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's

weight necessarily increases. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women.

O Quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain. And for some, it can lead to enough weight gain that the person becomes obese. In the long run, however, quitting smoking is still a greater benefit to your health than continuing to smoke.

CausesO Lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep or

getting too much sleep can cause changes in hormones that increase your appetite. You may also crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain.

Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to become obese. You can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise, and behavior changes.

Complications

If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:OHigh triglycerides and low high-

density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterolOHigh blood pressureOMetabolic syndrome — a combination

of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol

ComplicationsO Cancer, including cancer of the uterus,

cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate

O Breathing disorders, including sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts

O Gallbladder disease

ComplicationsO Gynecological problems, such as

infertility and irregular periodsO Erectile dysfunction and sexual health

issuesO Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a

condition in which fat builds up in the liver and can cause inflammation or scarring

O OsteoarthritisO Type 2 diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM)

Is a disease of the pancreas, an organ behind your stomach that produces the hormone insulin. Insulin helps the body use food for energy.

When a person has diabetes, the pancreas either cannot produce enough insulin, uses the insulin incorrectly, or both.

Diabetes mellitus (DM)Insulin works together with

glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream to help it enter the body's cells to be burned for energy. If the insulin isn't functioning properly, glucose cannot enter the cells. This causes glucose levels in the blood to rise, creating a condition of high blood sugar or diabetes, and leaving the cells without fuel.

What are the common types of diabetes?

There are two common forms of diabetes: type 1 and type 2O Type 1:

Type 1 diabetes occurs because the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (beta cells) are damaged. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin, so sugar cannot get into the body's cells for use as energy. People with type 1 diabetes must use insulin injections to control their blood glucose.

What are the common types of diabetes?

O Type 2: In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes

insulin, but it either doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes may sometimes be controlled with a combination of diet, weight management and exercise. However, treatment also may include oral glucose-lowering medications or insulin injections.

What causes diabetes?Health care providers do not yet know what causes diabetes. The following factors may increase your chance of getting diabetes:O Family history of diabetes or inherited

tendencyO African-American, Hispanic, Native American

or Asian-American race or ethnic backgroundO Being overweight (20 percent or more over

your desired body weight)O Physical stress (such as surgery or illness)O Use of certain medications, including steroid

and blood pressure medications

What causes diabetes?

O Injury to pancreas (such as infection, tumor, surgery or accident)

O Autoimmune diseaseO High blood pressureO Abnormal blood cholesterol or triglyceride

levelsO Age (risk increases with age)O Alcohol (risk increases with years of heavy

alcohol use)O SmokingO Pregnancy

How is diabetes managed?

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be treated and controlled. The goals of managing diabetes are to:O Keep your blood glucose levels as near to

normal as possible by balancing food intake with medication and activity.

O Maintain your blood cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels as near the normal ranges as possible by decreasing the total amount of fat to 30% or less of your total daily calories and by reducing saturated fat and cholesterol.

How is diabetes managed?

O Control your blood pressure. (Your blood pressure should not go over 130/80.)

O Decrease or possibly prevent the development of diabetes-related health problems.

How is diabetes managed?

You hold the keys to managing your diabetes by:O Planning what you eat and following a

balanced meal planO Exercising regularlyO Taking medication, if prescribed, and

closely following the guidelines on how and when to take it

How is diabetes managed?

O Monitoring your blood glucose and blood pressure levels at home

O Keeping your appointments with your health care providers and having laboratory tests completed as ordered by your doctor.

Ref: http://www.mayoclinic.org/

Ref: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/

Thank you

Prepared by:Melo, Monica T.BSN III-1