In one of our lessons in Medical-Surgical Nursing, we talked about care of client with obesity. Obesity is a condition in which there is an excess of adipose tissue. There are 2 types of obesity – upper body obesity and lower body obesity.

To determine whether you are obese or not, th following are the tests being done:
1. Body Mass Index (BMI) = weight (kg)/Height²(m²)

Normal         = BMI 18.5- 24.9kg/m²
Overweight = BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²
Obese           = BMI >30 kg/m²
Morbidly Obese = BMI>40 kg/m²

2. Antropometry or skinfold or fatfold measurement
3. Underwater weighing (hydrodensitometry)
4. Bioelectrical Impedence

Obesity is being linked to many health related problems such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, gallstones, heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, muscle strains and sprains, stress, varicosities, etc. In one of Oprah’s show, she mentioned that obesity is the number 2 leading cause of death in the US. Persons whose weight is more than 100% over ideal body weight has risk of dying that is 12 times that of people with ideal body weight. This condition is called morbid obesity.

To treat obesity, one has to exercise, manage diet, modify lifestyle and behavior, take medications (including diet pills) and to some extent undergo surgery. It takes a lot of discipline and commitment to treating treating obesity and losing weight. Experts believe that the majority of dieters regain lost weight within a 2-year period, so watch out!

To avoid obesity or regaining lost weight, the following are useful tips that you can practice:
1. eat only when you are hungry
2. choose low calorie foods
3. leave house with a full stomach
4. prepare enough foods only to eliminate leftovers
5. avoid eating when watching TV or reading
6. reduce frequency of eating out at restaurants (especially eat-all-you-can), parties and picnics
7. eat slowly (at least 20 minutes for a meal)
8. eat a salad or drink a hot beverage before a meal, and last but not least
9. stop eating with the first feeling of fullness.

Be healthy! Remember that you are what you eat.

Source: Lemone and Burke. 2004. Medical-Surgical Nursing