Hypertension

Hypertension A Definition

Any blood pressure levels equal to or greater than systolic blood pressure of 140 mm of Hg and diastolic blood pressures of 90 mm of Hg are termed as Hypertension.

Diabetes Mellitus

What is Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. According to International Diabetic Federation Diabetes affects 194 million people worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of the diabetes is increasing at some pace, it is estimated that in 2025 the number of diabetics will climb ladder of diabetes to reach 334 million. These figures give the idea about the incidence of disease, and among 194 million diabetics 80% are type II diabetics. Even in USA every one of the three born Americans is diabetic.

Role of Obesity in Type II Diabetes

Obesity is major factor and even a primary cause of Type II diabetes. Abdominal obesity is infact more likely to cause the diabetes and other cardiovascular events than subcutaneous obesity. An estimate indicates that half of the type II diabetes cases result from obesity.

Cause of Diabetes in Obesity

There is a very well established fact which indicates the obesity as a cause of type II diabetes. The fact is that the obesity causes and increases the resistance of tissues to the action of glucose resulting in increased blood level of glucose. The increased level of blood glucose is known as diabetes. The impaired intake of glucose by cells interferes with their energy needs and effects their functioning.

Factors responsible for Diabetes in Obesity

The following factors released by adipose tissue are responsible for the Type II diabetes in obesity.

Leptin

It is anti-obesity factor which decreases chances of obesity both in humans and animals. It also decreases the insulin resistance, so increase in adipose tissue decreases leptin which indirectly increases the insulin resistance of tissues and causes diabetes.

TNF

It directly increases the tissue resistance to the insulin, leading to increased blood glucose levels and so diabetes.

Free Fatty Acids

The mechanism by which Free Fatty Acids interfere with glucose uptake by tissues is quiet unclear but their role in increasing insulin resistance is well confirmed.

Resistin

As the name indicates this factor increases the tissue insulin resistance directly and causes elevated blood glucose levels leading to diabetes.

Healthy Weight

Convent ally speaking healthy weight refers to the weight ranges in different age groups associated with less morbidity and less mortality as a outcome a probable weight gain or loss. Merely looking into mirror you cannot define your healthy weight or the weight range in which you fall in. This needs a proper methodology and a statistical tool to let you know about your healthy weight range.

Defining Healthy Weight

A healthy weight is defined in the terms of a statistical application or tool called Body Mass Index. A range BMI of 18 to 25 lies in the healthy weight limits for age of 35 years or less and this range is further relaxed from 21 to 27 for older age groups.

Programs

Weight Loss Programs

Weight loss program is a combination of activities which help us to lose weight. It may involve different techniques and approaches. On planning losing weight is always a difficult thing to do and a choice of a appropriate weight loss program is a certain area of concern in this. After strong determination and will weight loss program is the on which the outcome of a weight loss plan depends.

Types of Weight Loss Programs

Weight loss programs depend upon mainly upon type of physical activity and diet you eat. There are following types weight loss programs.
  • Do-It-Yourself Programs
  • Non Clinical Programs
  • Clinical Programs

BMI

Body Mass Index usually abbreviated as BMI is most common tool to measure your physical health status. It is used widely and its application regarding measurement of obesity is a very practical.

Definition

It is defined as the weight to height ratio of an individual. It depends upon the weight and height.
Formula Body mass index is weight divided by height squared of a person.
BMI =weight/height2
It can be measured both in metric system and in pound-inches system. It is also known as Obesity Index or Quetelet Index, as it was developed by a Belgian Polymath Adolphe Quetelet in 4th decade of 19th century. In metric system its units are kg/m2 but in pound -inch system it is expressed in lbs/inches2.

BMI a WHO recommended tool

BMI is a WHO recommended tool for the measurement of obesity and overweight status of a person. Now WHO stresses upon the use of BMI to assess the weight issues and obesity rather than conventional height and weight charts.

Easy to use

BMI is simple and easy to use at home also. There is no technical assistance required by some professional. These simple statistics give good idea about a person’s health and weight. The other thing with the BMI is its quite good application and interpretation.

Interpreting your BMI

A BMI calculation reading may fall in the following four grades
Obesity gradesBMIInterpretation
Not ApplicableUnder 18Underweight
Grade 0Between 18-25Normal
Grade 125.9-29.9Overweight
Grade 230-39.9Obesity
Grade 340 and aboveSevere Obesity
From this table one can easily get idea where ones health status lies. This interpretation also helps a person to sort out the obesity grade in which one stands.

BMI may be misleading

It can be misleading about the adiposity of the of a person when the person has muscular built. A person may have BMI of 30 without being obese. This is because the BMI only gives the statistical measure of a person’s fatty tissue it is not a direct measure of adipose tissue of body as done in skinfold test or by measuring by bioelectrical impedance. Even BMI can over state a community obesity level and can give false indication of obesity.

BMI Formula

            Weight in Pounds             
(Height in inches) x (Height in inches)

OR

            Weight in Kilograms             
(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)

BMI calculator

BMI table

There is a BMI table for the comparison of your BMI and knowing your obesity level.
Normal Overweight Obese Extreme Obesity
BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Height
(ft.,in.)
Body Weight (pounds)
4' 10" 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 148 153 158 162 167 172 177 181 186 191 196 201 205 210 215 220 224 229 234 239 244 248 253 258
4' 11" 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 173 178 183 188 193 198 203 208 212 217 222 227 232 237 242 247 252 257 262 267
5' 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 184 189 194 199 204 209 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 261 266 271 276
5' 1" 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 190 195 201 206 211 217 222 227 232 238 243 248 254 259 264 269 275 280 285
5' 2" 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 196 202 207 213 218 224 229 235 240 246 251 256 262 267 273 278 284 289 295
5' 3" 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 203 208 214 220 225 231 237 242 248 254 259 265 270 278 282 287 293 299 304
5' 4" 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 209 215 221 227 232 238 244 250 256 262 267 273 279 285 291 296 302 308 314
5' 5" 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 216 222 228 234 240 246 252 258 264 270 276 282 288 294 300 306 312 318 324
5' 6" 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 223 229 235 241 247 253 260 266 272 278 284 291 297 303 309 315 322 328 334
5' 7" 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 230 236 242 249 255 261 268 274 280 287 293 299 306 312 319 325 331 338 344
5' 8" 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203 210 216 223 230 236 243 249 256 262 269 276 282 289 295 302 308 315 322 328 335 341 348 354
5' 9" 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209 216 223 230 236 243 250 257 263 270 277 284 291 297 304 311 318 324 331 338 345 351 358 365
5' 10" 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 250 257 264 271 278 285 292 299 306 313 320 327 334 341 348 355 362 369 376
5' 11" 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 257 265 272 279 286 293 301 308 315 322 329 338 343 351 358 365 372 379 386
6' 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 265 272 279 287 294 302 309 316 324 331 338 346 353 361 368 375 383 390 397
6' 1" 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 272 280 288 295 302 310 318 325 333 340 348 355 363 371 378 386 393 401 408
6' 2" 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 280 287 295 303 311 319 326 334 342 350 358 365 373 381 389 396 404 412 420
6' 3" 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 287 295 303 311 319 327 335 343 351 359 367 375 383 391 399 407 415 423 431
6' 4" 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287 295 304 312 320 328 336 344 353 361 369 377 385 394 402 410 418 426 435 443

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Find Your Obesity Level

Obesity is considered the most prevailing international epidemic and more profoundly in developed countries. A lot of money and brain is being spent to prevent this propounding disease harboring condition. Am I obese?

Products

The increasing need of losing weight is being cashed by the ever expanding “Weight loss industry”. The weight loss industry has reached 100 billion $ only in USA. The weight loss products are being poured at rapid rate into the ever growing weight loss market. The range of weight loss products has diversified a lot form its beginning. Now you can find a lot of stuff around you in the markets ranging from diet pills to phony devices and electrical stimulators. A lot can be talked about the affectivity of each of the weight loss products , but it would be worth mentioning to name some of the most common in demand. Here I am not talking about the their market names I will mention them by their types.

Diets

• Low calorie diets
• Fad diets

Pills and capsules

• Fat blockers
• Fat burners
• Starch blockers
• Diet pills
• Herbal pills

Devices

• Electrical stimulators
• Satiety eyeglasses
• Acupuncture earrings

These weight loss products are in abundance in the market with a variety of brand names. The volume of money in this business has also mushroomed the growth of weight loss clinics or slimming centers. These clinics and slimming centers are also selling these products in one or other way. The price structure for weight loss products is also very high and the marketers just don’t mention their associated hazards. The manufacturer of weight loss products has very less to do with their side effects.

Methods

Weight loss methods are the techniques used to lose weight. These techniques can be used in combination or can be used alone to get rid of excess weight. A person planning to go for weight loss should have complete information of these techniques and also he should know the health and obesity level of his own. This information along with the advice of the physician will help him to choose the right weight loss method. There are following methods in practice to lose weight safely and efficiently.

Complications

Obesity is growing non communicable disease of the new world. Obesity is becoming a major health problem about 7% of the world population is suffering from obesity. Obesity simply is not a single health hazard but it is a platform for many other diseases. Obesity has direct relationship with its complications. More obese you are more vulnerable you are to the complications of obesity. Obesity is quiet difficult to treat and its complications are even more difficult to treat

Social and psychological problems

Concept of super fitness and a model look is catching the globe at a crazy pace. The fashion industry is adding a mountain tension into the society. A model look is being the rule of the day. The slimness has become the symbol of attractiveness. A fat and obese person suffers a psychological trauma everyday in the society. Even some people equate obesity with laziness and an ill feel. Although it is not always true. The obese person is considered a fun stuff. Slim and smart person is the requirement in most job cases. So a fat and obese person not only suffers with his looks and obesity is cosmetic problem for him but he also faces a sort of social boycott Social acceptance of a fat and obese person also becomes problem and is a major cause of depression in theses kind of persons. Other profound feelings are feeling of shame, isolation and rejection adding salt to the injury.

Obesity

Obesity is an emerging health problem. Its a estimate that 7 % of world population is suffering from obesity. The rate of growing of obesity is alarming . Even some nations face this problem at national level. In USA obesity is prevailing disease among the adults and children. There is lot of money being spent to control and prevent it.

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