Obesity: Use of BMI to classify & prevention and Control

1. Dr. Snehdeep Patil
M.D. D.P.H.
Associate Professor

2. Definition
 Obesity may be defined as an abnormal growth of the
adipose tissue due to an enlargement of fat cell size
(hypertropic obesity) or increase in fat cell number
(hyperplastic).
 Obesity is often expressed in terms of body mass index
(BMI). Obesity is classified as BMI ≥30.

3. Assessment of Obesity
 Body Weight
 Skinfold Thickness
 Waist Circumference and Waist Hip Ratio
 Others

4. Body Weight
Body Mass Index
(Quetelets Index ):
Weight(kg.)/
Height(m)2

7. Other Indices
 Broca formula
Normal Body Weight (kg) = [Height (cm) - 100]
 Lorentz-formula
Ideal body-weight (w) of a subject;
 for men: w = (height [cm]− 100) − ((height − 150)/4)
 for women: w = (height − 100) − ((height − 150)/2)
 Waist circumference :
Waist is measured at mid point of lower border of rib cage
and iliac crest (at the level of umbilicus). A measure of less
than or equal to 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women is
considered healthy.

8. Hazards of obesity
 Metabolic & Degenerative : Diabetes type 2 (50 to
100 times more common in obese), hyperlipidaemia,
ischemic heart disease, hypertension (5 to 6 times
commoner), stroke (2.5 to 6 times commoner), gall
stones, breast and colon cancer, infertility (men and
women), gout and polycystic ovary syndrome are seen
more often in the obese.
 Physical: Osteoarthritis, chronic back pain,
respiratory problems, limited mobility.
 Psychological : Depression, low self - esteem, social
isolation.

9. Prevention of Obesity
“Most obese people won’t enter treatment,
most who do won’t lose weight and most who
lose weight regain it”

10. Importance of Prevention
Losing 10 kg is associated with:
 A reduction in total mortality by 20%
 A reduction in systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg
 A reduction in diastolic blood pressure by 20 mmHg
 A reduction in fasting glucose by upto 50%
 A reduction in total cholesterol by 10%
 A beneficial rise of 8% in HDL cholesterol
 An improved self - esteem

11. Levels of Prevention
 Universal Prevention: meant for all the individuals
in the community, irrespective of their weight status.
 Selective Prevention: The high risk individuals are
targeted those who are more likely to gain weight.
 Indicated Prevention : Indicated Prevention or the
Secondary preventive measures are to be taken for
those with existing problems of overweight and
obesity.

12. How to Reduce Weight?
The aim should be to maintain BMI below 25 kg/m2
(preferably below 23.5) and the waist circumference
below 90 cm in adult men and < 80 cm in adult women,
by a prudent combination of:
 Diet
 Physical activity
 Avoid weight gain in adulthood.

13. How to Reduce Weight?
Many modalities for treatment/prevention of obesity are
available.
 Dietary therapy (most practical and effective
measure)
 Behaviour therapy
 Drug therapy
 Surgical intervention
 Genetic approach

14. Thank You