Introduction to over weight and obesity

1. Where are we heading?

2. Obesity and overweight
Definition
 Overweight and obesity are abnormal or excessive fat
accumulation that may impair health.
 Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-
height that is commonly used to classify overweight and
obesity in adults.
 The WHO definition is:
 Overweight: BMI = 25-29.9
◦ “Body weight above some reference point of acceptable
weight”
 Obesity: BMI > 30
◦ “Excess of body fat in relation to lean body mass”
◦ Morbidly obese: BMI > 40 – 49.9
◦ Super obese: BMI > 50
5/18/2023 2

3.  A new dimension to the
malnutrition problem
◦ The epidemic of obesity and diet-related
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in
developed countries is spreading to the
developing world
◦ Many poorer countries are now beginning
to suffer from a double burden of under
nutrition and obesity
–Nutrition transition

4. Facts about overweight and obesity
 Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk
for global deaths.
 At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a
result of being overweight or obese.
 WHO global estimates from 2008 follow.
o More than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were
overweight.
o Of these overweight adults, over 200 million
men and nearly 300 million women were
obese.
o Overall, more than one in ten of the world’s
adult population was obese.

5.  In 2010, more than 40 million children under
five were overweight.
 Overweight and obesity are linked to more
deaths worldwide than underweight.
 For example, 65% of the world's population
live in countries where overweight and obesity
kill more people than underweight.

6. The fundamental cause of obesity and
overweight is an energy imbalance between
calories consumed and calories expended.
Globally, there has been:
 an increased intake of energy-dense foods that
are high in fat, salt and sugars but low in
vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients;
and
 a decrease in physical activity due to the
increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of
work, changing modes of transportation, and
increasing urbanization.

7. Other factors that also play a role in obesity.
These may include:
 Age: As you get older, your body's ability to
metabolize food slows down and you do not
require as many calories to maintain your
weight.
 Gender: Women tend to be more overweight
than men. Men have a higher resting metabolic
rate (meaning they burn more energy at rest)
than women.
 Genetics: Obesity (and thinness) tends to run
in families.

8.  Illness
 There are some illnesses that can cause
obesity.
 These include hormone problems such as
hypothyroidism (poorly acting thyroid slows
metabolism), depression, and some rare
diseases of the brain that can lead to
overeating.
 Medication: Certain drugs, such as steroids
and some antidepressants, may cause
excessive weight gain.

9. Common health consequences of
overweight and obesity are;
 Coronary heart disease
 Type 2 diabetes
 Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
 Hypertension (high blood pressure)
 Dyslipidemia (for example, high total
cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

10. Cont’…
Stroke
Liver and Gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of
cartilage and its underlying bone within
a joint)

11. Overweight and obesity, as well as their related
non communicable diseases, are largely
preventable.
At the individual level, people can:
 Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables,
as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts;
 Limit energy intake from total fats;
 Limit the intake of sugars;
 Engage in regular physical activity;
 Achieve energy balance and a healthy weight.