Obesity is much more than a cosmetic concern.
Obesity, which is excessive accumulation of body fat is a medical problem that increases your risk of innumerable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, gall stones, acidity, stroke, cancers, osteoporosis, infertility and psychological trauma.
Taking in more calories than your body uses can lead to obesity. This is because the body stores unused calories as fat. However, several other factors can play a role in gaining and retaining excess weight such as, behavioral, hormonal and environmental factors, genetics, sleep patterns and more.
The Common Sign of Obesity
- An above-average body weight.
- Excess body fat, particularly around the waist
BMI and Waist circumference
Body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used method to check if you are above average weight. To calculate BMI divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
A better measure of excess fat can be done by measuring the waist circumference. A large waist circumference means you may have more fat in your abdomen than you do in other places, which can put you at an increased risk for health problems. Generally, men with a waist size of 94cm or more and women with a waist size of 80cm or more are more likely to have obesity-related health problems.
BMI Ranges
For most adults:
- BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 means you have a healthy weight
- BMI between 25 and 29.9 means you’re overweight
- BMI 30 and higher implies that you are obese
For Asians, overweight is defined as BMI between 23 and 24.9 and obesity as BMI 25 or higher. The BMI yardstick works for most people. However, BMI has limitations as it does not differentiate between fat weight and muscle mass and therefore some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obesity category even though they do not have excess body fat.
Complications of Obesity
Obesity can increase your chances of developing a number of potentially serious health problems, including:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Sleep apnea
- Back pain
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Certain cancers like bowel cancer and breast cancer
- Digestive issues such as heartburn, gallbladder disease, and liver problems
- Psychological problems, such as depression and low self-esteem
The WHO and NIH guidelines for Asian individuals define overweight as a BMI between 23 and 24.9 and obesity as a BMI score of 25 and above.
BMI has limitations as it does not differentiate between fat weight and muscle mass. Some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI in the obesity category even though they do not have excess body fat.
Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increases your risk of obesity.
Asians tend to have consistently lower BMI because of their different body build. They are more likely to develop fat around their abdomen, which is linked to a higher risk for diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.
For Asians, overweight is defined as BMI between 23 and 24.9 and obesity as BMI 25 or higher.
Treatment of obesity include a combination of oral medications, external oil therapies, and in certain cases detox therapies like panchakarma. Obesity has to be managed not just with medications and treatment. A healthy lifestyle and dietary modifications play a crucial role in weight management. Psychosomatic stability can be achieved by yoga and meditation.
At UWAY, the underlying cause of obesity is diagnosed and patients are clinically assessed. Depending on this, treatment is administered which includes a combination of oral medications and external oil therapies. It has to be complemented with lifestyle and dietary modifications and in some cases, yoga too has an added value.
If you are on any other medication to treat obesity, your treating doctor at UWAY, will advise you to taper, stop or to continue it.
Depending on the root cause of obesity it may take any time between couple of weeks to a couple of months for you to see noticeable change in your condition.
At Uway we have a panel of distinguished and experienced doctors who can effectively & successfully treat and manage your condition.
Ayurveda medications are usually a very safe and effective option for treating obesity.
At UWAY, our doctors prescribe only proven medicines from well-established and reputed ayurvedic medicine manufacturers. However, just like certain foods do not always agree with everyone, few ayurvedic medicines may cause mild side effects in some patients. This is very rare though. In case you notice any such issue you can always talk to your consulting doctor or our medical team.
Consultations at UWAY can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. We require most of the medical records related to the current problem, the medicines you are on currently and for pre-existing conditions for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, cardiac issues etc.
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