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Nutrition & Fitness

Overweight and Obesity

The words overweight and obesity are generally used interchangeably. However, according to the Institute of Medicine report, their technical meanings are not identical. Overweight refers to an excess of body weight that includes all tissues, such as fat, bone and muscle. Obesity refers specifically to an excess of body fat. It is possible to be overweight without being obese, as in the case of a body builder who has a substantial amount of muscle mass. It is possible to be obese without being overweight, as in the case of a very sedentary person who is within the desirable weight range but who nevertheless has an excess of body fat. However, most overweight people are also obese and vice versa. Men with more than 25 percent and women with more than 30 percent body fat are considered obese.

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It’s a health hazard. Someone who is 40 percent overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This effect is seen after 10 to 30 years of being obese.

Obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. It is also associated with higher rates of certain types of cancer. Obese women are more likely than non-obese women to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix and ovarian cancer.

Other disease and health problems linked to obesity include:

Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate, possibly as result of excess weight on the joints.
Gout, another disease affecting the joints.
Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea, in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep.

Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is, the more likely he or she is to have health problems.

One of the most painful aspects of obesity may be the emotional suffering it causes. American society places great emphasis on physical appearance, often equating attractiveness with being slender, especially in women. The messages, intended or not, make overweight people feel unattractive. Many people assume that obese people are gluttonous, lazy, or both. However, more and more evidence contradicts this assumption.