Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems. Obesity and adolescence are not amenable to a single easily modified factor. Biological, cultural, and environmental factors such as readily available high-density food choices impact youth eating behaviors. Media devices and associated screen time make physical activity a less optimal choice for children and adolescents. The need for Interventions to change the address of the Gynec environment by the Institute in policies around the food industry and in the school needs to be clarified. Obesity is preventable. Thus, identifying early determinants or ‘warning signs of the future development of obesity is important.

Markers of obesity

Obesity is a chronic progressive disease that affects the body from head to toe. It can affect joints, limit your mobility, lungs, liver, and reproductive health. Intake of excess calories or excess fat consumption and excess carbohydrate in the diet and inadequate physical activity are the main causes of obesity. It is considered a worldwide epidemic and the incidence of obesity among people has increased over the last few years. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the cases have become more evident. When the lockdown was in place people were restricted to moving out of their homes, the sudden change in the lifestyle, lack of physical activities, and work from home culture has resulted in many people feeling anxious and depressed which lead to an increase in unhealthy binge eating and indulge in bad habits in many. All these contribute to the development of obesity.

Understanding the ideal body weight

In India, being fat is considered a sign of prosperity and good health in many cultures. But one must understand that in order to be fit your height and weight should be in proper proportion. Body Mass Index is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It is used to check if your height matches the weight of your body. It determines the excess fat in the body and the status of weight in connection with the fat. The number differs in men and women. The calculator is helpful in focusing on the health issues and getting an idea about the body mass. It is a very simple process one can calculate the BMI on its own or can be done online.

Normal BMI starts from 18.5 kg/meter square to 25 kg/m2. If the number is less than 15 it means you are underweight. 25 to 30 BMI is regarded as overweight and, beyond 30 means you are obese.

Healthy eating is the key to maintaining an ideal weight

One must not forget the saying that you are what you eat. To maintain a healthy body weight, it is important to eat healthy food and do physical exercise. Alongside, focus more on building a healthy body rather than losing weight instantly.

Losing weight in severely obese people can be a challenging task which often ends up in losing hope when it fails. For them, visiting a weight management clinic to seek help can be beneficial. Support from family, a dedicated plan, and a motivated set of individuals are required to help address each person’s obesity on an individual basis. In certain cases, bariatric surgery has shown great merit in helping control weight and reverse obesity-related comorbidities. However, it is recommended to reach out to a dietitian or an endocrinologist experienced in weight management. They will be able to guide you and help with your diet plan, exercises, and weight management options based on your body.

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Childhood obesity is a growing health concern these days and its prevalence is increasing all over the world. According to experts, children who are overweight or obese are at more risk of developing health issues in the future as compared to children having a normal weight.

What Are The Causes Of Childhood Obesity?

Genetics and lifestyle are the two main causes of childhood obesity. If one or both of the parents are overweight or obese, their kids are more likely to be obese. Lifestyle factors such as overeating, less physical activity, too much time spent in front of the television, mobiles, or laptops, and consumption of unhealthy foods such as fries, cakes, aerated drinks, or other oily and sugary foods can significantly lead to obesity.

Obesity and Thyroid Dysfunction

Obesity can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Some studies have suggested that childhood obesity can affect thyroid function and structure. Hence as the child grows older, there is more amount of stress on the thyroid gland thus leading to decreased production of thyroid hormones like T4 and TSH. This in turn leads to difficulty in losing weight because the rate of metabolism is lowered. It has been observed that thyroid function can come back to normal if there is significant weight loss as it can lead to normalization of the TSH production.  Interleukins and inflammatory cytokines play an important role in thyroid autoimmunity. In obese or overweight children, there is enhanced secretion of cytokines and interleukins, thus leading to an under-functional thyroid.

How can thyroid issues be diagnosed?

Thyroid imbalances can be diagnosed by:

• Medical history and physical examination- The doctor takes a complete history of the patient and their family. A thorough physical examination is done to understand whether the patient is having any other health issues.

• Blood check-up- A complete blood work-up is done to evaluate the hormone levels and to identify any other conditions.

Apart from thyroid imbalances, childhood obesity is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, fatigue, joint problems, muscle cramps, breathing issues such as shortness of breath, asthma or sleep apnea, liver disorders, and psychological conditions such as anxiety or depression

How Can Childhood Obesity Be Prevented?

• Avoid over-feeding the child.

• Portion control is important.

• Incorporate healthy snacks as between-the-meals options. This will prevent them from reaching out to a bowl of chips or fries.

• Keep a check on hydration levels. Fluids in any form- water, fresh juices, and fruit-infused water are some of the options. Avoid tea, coffee, and aerated drinks.

• Get creative and incorporate healthy foods such as whole-wheat bread, nuts, fruit salads, and other items in meals.

• A minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity is important as it benefits their physical as well as mental health.

• Limit screen time and encourage them to play games such as running, cycling, swimming, football, etc.

Childhood obesity if not kept under control, can lead to very serious health problems later. It is important to take proper medical guidance at the very early stages. In addition to this, efforts must be made to bring about lifestyle changes to prevent further weight gain.

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With the change in lifestyle, obesity in India has reached epidemic proportions in the 21st century. The sedentary lifestyle is the major reason for obesity, which can strongly be witnessed in youngsters and adults all over the world. India, in particular, is bearing the heavy burden of obesity, which is prevalent even among children between the age of 5 and 19 years.

Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity has doubled worldwide. Over 1.9 billion adults (18 years and older) and 41 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2014 and nearly half of these children lived in Asia. Over the last decade or so, the prevalence of obesity has seen a significant rise in India, with almost one-third of the adult urban population estimated to be obese. Not only that, India has the second-highest number of obese children in the world with 14.4 million reported cases, according to a study. Another study estimates that by 2025, India will have over 17 million obese children and in the next 20 years, the number of obese adults is forecasted to be as high as 26 million people.

Something which a lot of people are unaware about obesity is that it is not just an issue of being overweight because of over-eating, but it is also directly linked to metabolic disorders like cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, and Type 1 diabetes. This makes obesity a threatening socio-economic and public health problem in the country.

Causes of obesity

Obesity is marked by high body mass index (BMI), abdominal adiposity, increased subcutaneous fat, and fat deposits in parts like the liver and other muscles.

The chief causes include:

• Lack of physical activities and exercises,
• A sedentary lifestyle,
• Binge eating,
• Alcohol consumption,
• Improper/unhealthy food habits.
• High consumption of sugar, fat-based foods and an energy-dense diet can lead to increased body fat percentage.
• Regularly skipping breakfast or high dependence on fast-foods

Medical complications

As mentioned above, obesity is not about just being over-weight; but it also brings along many medical complications with it and poses a threat to the body in many ways. Obese people are likely to develop various potentially serious health problems like:

• Heart disease and stroke
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Type 2 diabetes
• Certain cancers like that of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate
• Digestive problems, heartburn, gallbladder disease, and liver problems

• Gynecological and sexual problems like infertility and irregular periods in women or even erectile dysfunction in men
• Sleep apnea
• Osteoarthritis due to increased stress on weight-bearing joints
• Reduced quality of life

Some weight-related concerns that affect the quality of life include:

• Depression
• Disability
• Sexual problems
• Shame and guilt
• Social isolation
• Lower work achievement

Ways to prevent obesity

If the underlying causes of obesity are not addressed early on in life, it has the capacity to convert into a major health issue in adulthood.

• Encourage children to participate in household activities and regular physical exercises. Physical activities must be a part of the regular curriculum in school. Children who are into outdoor games and sports have a greater metabolism rate and do not tend to gain excess weight, as compared to children who spend all their time in front of digital screens.
• Promote well-portioned meals and nutritious food among children.
• Physical activity must be a part of one’s daily routine even later in life. Let your child choose a form of exercise whether its athletics, sports, outdoor games, cycling, swimming or dance.
• Practice healthy eating habits including eating on time, not over-eating, avoiding fatty processed foods (like excess cheese, gluten, whip cream, and other such unhealthy foods), and by eating the right kinds of food (locally available foods, whole grains, vegetables, whole fruits, nuts, beans, and fish)
• Replace ‘screen time’ with ‘family time’.

The treatment methods that one can opt when dealing with obesity are:

• Liposuction
• Gastric bypass
• Gastric banding
• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
• Mini bypass gastric surgery
• Tummy tucks

Though obesity is a non-communicable disease, it is creating a ‘New World Syndrome’ that is rapidly affecting every part of the world. Thankfully, simple shifts in lifestyle is all you need to lead a healthy, fat-free, worry less life!

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