Obesity, a growing Epidemic

Despite the growing popularity and number of diet plans and fitness clubs, the number of Americans that are overweight or obese is continuing to increase each year and at an exponential rate. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention “30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older—over 60 million people—are obese”. And “The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980”. “Among children and teens aged 6–19 years, 16 percent (over 9 million young people) are considered overweight.”

Most doctors put much attention into treating obesity due to its numerous complications. There are many risks associated with obesity, some include:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Cancer

B.M.I.

Many physicians use BMI (Body Mass Index) to determine whether someone is obese. BMI is a calculated value that takes into account both height and weight. A Body Mass Index greater than 30 (BMI > 30) is defined as obesity. Normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25. Be leery of your BMI score however. A BMI is only intended to give you an idea of your proportionate weight to height . It is not always accurate because it fails to take into account many of the factors that determine your weight. For example, a body builder with virtually no body fat could have a BMI that would classify him/her as overweight or obese. This is caused by a higher than average density of muscle mass. Some people have genetically more dense muscle tissue, even without weight lifting, or heavier than normal bone mass or retain a greater than average amount of water weight. Any of these factors could distort the BMI giving a completely inaccurate assessment of your condition.

Weight loss plans…

Many overweight people have tried various weight loss plans, some with minimal to no success and some with great success. However, most people seem to put the pounds back on shortly thereafter.

Differently from what most of the fad weight loss diet plans suggest, there is no one weight

loss diet for everyone. Diet plans need to be tailored to the individual by taking into account different body types, blood types, metabolisms and varying needs and goals. The same is true of exercise. Exercise is an important aspect of good health, however, many vigorous and aerobic exercise plans actually serve to increase fat production.

Causes of obesity:

Weight loss is not always as simple as diet and exercise. There are many factors involved in the underlying causes of obesity and these factors vary between individuals. Certain diseases, like hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) or Cushing’s disease (excess stress hormone) can contribute almost exclusively to obesity. These diseases can typically be easily identified with certain clinical and/or lab tests. Other diseases or conditions that contribute to obesity, may not be as apparent on a typical physical exam or lab test and often require closer examination and testing to determine their presence. Some of these conditions are as simple as:

Stress, which causes the release of excess stress hormone which increases fat storage
Aerobic exercise, especially after a long day at work, can actually create more fat than it burns
Nutrient deficiencies
Menopause
Hormone imbalances
Environmental toxins, like those in pollution, plastics, foods, etc.
Mental / emotional causes

The list of the possible causes for weight gain is extensive. It is not always as simple as overeating and lack of exercise. It is important to discover and address the true cause or causes of obesity. This awareness makes weight loss not only more effective but also more permanent. Naturopathic Doctors specialize in getting to the root of the cause of obesity. An extensive patient history can often reveal the cause(s) and there are lab tests available that can help as confirmation.