URUK UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

LEVEL 1

OBESITY

Student name : HUMAM SALIM KHALAF

Doctor : MAISA AHMED
Obesity

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

There are many reasons why some people have difficulty avoiding obesity.
Usually, obesity results from a combination of inherited factors, combined with
the environment and personal diet and exercise choices.
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
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medications and weight-loss procedures are additional options for treating
obesity.

Symptoms
Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. To
determine your body mass index, divide your weight in pounds by your height
in inches squared and multiply by 703. Or divide your weight in kilograms by
your height in meters squared.

BMI Weight status

Below 18.5 Underweight

18.5-24.9 Normal

25.0-29.9 Overweight

30.0 and higher Obesity

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 obesity category even though they
don't have excess body fat.

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When to see a doctor
If you're concerned about weight-related health problems, ask your doctor
about obesity management. You and your doctor can evaluate your health
risks and discuss your weight-loss options.

Causes
Although there are genetic, behavioral, metabolic 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.
Most Americans' diets are too high in calories — often from fast food and
high-calorie beverages. People with obesity might eat more calories before
feeling full, feel hungry sooner, or eat more due to stress or anxiety.

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Risk factors
Obesity usually results from a combination of causes and contributing factors:

Family inheritance and influences

The genes you inherit from your parents 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, how your body regulates
your appetite and how your body burns calories during exercise.
Obesity tends to run in families. That's not just because of the genes they
share. Family members also tend to share similar eating and activity habits.

Lifestyle choices
 Unhealthy diet. A diet that's high in calories, lacking in fruits and vegetables, full
of fast food, and laden with high-calorie beverages and oversized portions
contributes to weight gain.
 Liquid calories. People can drink many calories without feeling full, especially
calories from alcohol. Other high-calorie beverages, such as sugared soft drinks,
can contribute to significant weight gain.
 Inactivity. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories
every day than you burn through exercise and routine daily activities. Looking at
computer, tablet and phone screens is a sedentary activity. The number of hours
you spend in front of a screen is highly associated with weight gain.

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Certain diseases and medications
In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-
Willi syndrome, Cushing syndrome and other conditions. Medical problems,
such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in
weight gain.
Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through
diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure
medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids and
beta blockers.

Social and economic issues

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

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. In
addition, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease with age.
Generally, lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. These
changes also reduce calorie needs, and can make it harder to keep off excess
weight. If you don't consciously control what you eat and become more
physically active as you age, you'll likely gain weight.

Other factors
 Pregnancy. Weight gain is common during pregnancy. 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. Breast-feeding may be the best option to
lose the weight gained during pregnancy.
 Quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain. And for
some, it can lead to enough weight gain to qualify as obesity. Often, this happens
as people use food to cope with smoking withdrawal. In the long run, however,
quitting smoking is still a greater benefit to your health than is continuing to
smoke. Your doctor can help you prevent weight gain after quitting smoking.
 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.
 Stress. Many external factors that affect your mood and well-being may
contribute to obesity. People often seek more high-calorie food when
experiencing stressful situations.
 Microbiome. Your gut bacteria are affected by what you eat and may contribute

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 to weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

 Previous attempts to lose weight. Previous attempts of weight loss followed by

rapid weight regain may contribute to further weight gain. This phenomenon,
sometimes called yo-yo dieting, can slow your metabolism.
Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're
destined to develop obesity. You can counteract most risk factors through
diet, physical activity and exercise, and behavior changes.

Complications
People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious
health problems, including:

 Heart disease and strokes. Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood
pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease
and strokes.
 Type 2 diabetes. Obesity can affect the way your body uses insulin to control
blood sugar levels. This raises your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
 Certain cancers. Obesity may increase your risk of cancer of the uterus, cervix,
endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, kidney and prostate.
 Digestive problems. Obesity increases the likelihood that you'll develop
heartburn, gallbladder disease and liver problems.
 Gynecological and sexual problems. Obesity may cause infertility and irregular
periods in women. Obesity also can cause erectile dysfunction in men.
 Sleep apnea. People with obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea, a
potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during
sleep.
 Osteoarthritis. Obesity increases the stress placed on weight-bearing joints, in
addition to promoting inflammation within the body. These factors may lead to
complications such as osteoarthritis.
Quality of life
Obesity can diminish your overall quality of life. You may not be able to do
things you used to do, such as participating in enjoyable activities. You may
avoid public places. People with obesity may even encounter discrimination.
Other weight-related issues that may affect your quality of life include:

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

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Prevention
Whether you're at risk of obesity, currently overweight or at a healthy weight,
you can take steps to prevent unhealthy weight gain and related health
problems. Not surprisingly, the steps to prevent weight gain are the same as
the steps to lose weight: daily exercise, a healthy diet, and a long-term
commitment to watch what you eat and drink.

 Exercise regularly. You need to get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity

activity a week to prevent weight gain. Moderately intense physical activities
include fast walking and swimming.
 Follow a healthy-eating plan. Focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such
as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid saturated fat and limit sweets and
alcohol. Eat three regular meals a day with limited snacking. You can still enjoy
small amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods as an infrequent treat. Just be sure
to choose foods that promote a healthy weight and good health most of the time.
 Know and avoid the food traps that cause you to eat. Identify situations that
trigger out-of-control eating. Try keeping a journal and write down what you eat,
how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling and how hungry you are.
After a while, you should see patterns emerge. You can plan ahead and develop
strategies for handling these types of situations and stay in control of your eating
behaviors.
 Monitor your weight regularly. People who weigh themselves at least once a
week are more successful in keeping off excess pounds. Monitoring your weight
can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you detect small

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 weight gains before they become big problems.

• Be consistent. Sticking to your healthy-weight plan during the week, on the

weekends, and amidst vacation and holidays as much as possible increases your
chances of long-term success.

In my opinion, to control obesity, we need:

 Promoting healthy eating habits and encouraging exercise.

 Developing public policies that promote access to healthy, low-fat, high-fiber foods.

 Training healthcare professionals so that they can effectively support people who
need to lose weight and help others avoid gaining weight.

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