Obesity is caused mainly by taking in more calories than that are used up in physical activity and daily life routine. When you eat food of too many calories, or too much saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, then your blood cholesterol levels will rise which will raise the risk of heart disease.
Obesity is a major risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), which will lead to heart attack. Obesity raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lowers HDL “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so reducing it tends to raise the risk. Obesity raises blood pressure levels. Obesity can induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.
Even when there are no adverse effects on the known risk factors, obesity by itself increases risk of heart disease. It also harms more than just the heart and blood vessel system. It is a major cause of gallstones and will worsen degenerative joint disease.
The body weight depends on height and body frame and for measuring and finding out whether a person is obese or overweight or not , an index called Body Mass Index (BMI) has been developed, which is recognized by WHO (Worl Health Organization). In Metric Unit, BMI calculated by the formula, the weight of the person in Kilograms /the height square of the person in metres. That is, weight in Kg /height in metres X height in metres (Kg/m2). In British Units BMI is calculated by the formula, the weight of the person in Pounds/ the height square of the person in Inches Square. That is, weight in Lbs/height in inches X height in inches.(Lbs/Inches2).
Body Mass Index (BMI):-
- Less than 18.5 – Underweight
- From 18.5 To 24.9 – Normal Weight
- From 25 To 29.9 – Overweight
- 30 and Above -Obesity
- 40 and Above -Extreme Obesity