DR ADE ODERINDE 
The scene It’s another day for Mrs SK to make good money as usual, her clients have been call- ing on phone as early as 5am to make the usual supply of goods. Nothing prepared her for this unusual day; one to agonizingly remember. Though on the plump side just like her mum; on the one hand she has been making conscious efforts to lose weight but on the other hand she overindulges herself when it comes to gulping junk meal. There she was in the back seat of a tricycle that early morning waiting for potential passengers to board. As they approach, each peep, assess her size and one after the other they move on to the next machine. At the last count about 5 persons did this and when it dawned on the driver he advised her to ‘’charter’’ him which she happily conceded to.
Off they go, but a few yards from the take off point the back tyres got deflated and the both of them had to disembark. Some seemingly jobless youths in the vicinity went hysterical with sarcastic laughter pointing to her size scornfully as being the cause of the flat tyres…………………….what a day she wished never came!
What it is Obesity is a condition in which a person has an unhealthy amount and/or distribu- tion of body fat. To measure obesity, a scale known as the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by their height (in meters) squared (commonly expressed as kg/m2). BMI provides a more accurate measure of obesity than weight alone, and for most people it is a fairly good (although indirect) indicator of body fatness.
The standard weight categories based on BMI for adults age 20 years or older are; BMI in kg/m2 Weight Category Below 18.5 Underweight 18.5 to 24.9 Normal 25.0 to 29.9 Overweight 30.0 to 39.9 Obese 40.0 or higher Severely obese Causes Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little. 1. Poor diet Obesity doesn’t happen overnight. It de- velops gradually over time, as a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices, such as: • eating large amounts of processed or fast food – that’s high in fat and sugar • drinking too much alcohol – alco- hol contains a lot of calories, and people who drink heavily are often overweight • eating out a lot – you may be tempt- ed to also have a starter or dessert in a restau- rant, and the food can be higher in fat and sugar • eating larger portions than you need – you may be encouraged to eat too much if your friends or relatives are also eat- ing large portions • drinking too many sugary drinks – including soft drinks and fruit juice • comfort eating – if you have low self-esteem or feel depressed, you may eat to make yourself feel better 2. Genetics Obesity has a strong genetic component. Children of obese parents are much more likely to become obese than children of lean parents. That doesn’t mean that obesity is completely predetermined. What you eat can have a major effect on which genes are expressed and which are not 3. Lack of physical activity This is another important factor related to obesity. Many people have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for most of the day. They also rely on their cars, rather than walking 4. Certain medications, including some corticosteroids, medications for epilepsy and diabetes, and some medications used to treat mental illness – including antide- pressants and medicines for schizophrenia – can contribute to weight gain. 5. Weight gain can sometimes be a side effect of stopping smoking 6. Medical reasons In some cases, underlying medical conditions may contribute to weight gain.
These include: • an underactive thyroid gland (hy- pothyroidism) – where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones • Cushing’s syndrome – a rare dis- order that causes the over-production of steroid hormones Consequences of Obesity Health Consequences People who have obesity, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including the fol- lowing: • High blood pressure (Hyperten- sion) • High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia) • Type 2 diabetes • Coronary heart disease • Stroke • Gallbladder disease • Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint) • Sleep apnea and breathing prob- lems • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon,kidney,gallbladder, andliver) • Low quality of life • Mental illness such as clinical de- pression, anxiety, and other mental disor- ders • Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning Economic Consequences Direct medical costs may include preven- tive, diagnostic, and treatment services re- lated to obesity. Indirect costs include pro- ductivity. Productivity measures include ‘absenteeism’(costsdue toemployeesbeing absentfromworkforobesity-relatedhealth reasons) and‘presenteeism’(decreasedpro- ductivity of employees while at work) as well as premature mortality and disability. Social Consequences According to ‘’Psychology Today’’ weight discrimination is hurled at people from all directions: • More than half of doctors de- scribed their overweight patients as ugly, awkward and non-compliant with treat- ment. • Nearly one-quarter of nurses ad- mitted to feeling repulsed by their obese patients. • Nearly30percent ofteachers said that becoming obese was “the worst thing that can happen to someone.” • Defendants in lawsuits who are overweight are more likely to get slapped with a guilty verdict. • More than 70 percent of obese people reportedbeingridiculedabouttheir weight by a family member. • 52% of obese individuals believe they’ve been discriminated against when seeking employment or a promotion. • Children as young as 4 are reluc- tant to make friends with an overweight child. Advice Talk to your doctor, visit a nutritionist and resist the seemingly irrestibles!
