Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 is obese.
The most common method to check if you are a healthy weight is body mass index (BMI)
This is a measure of whether you are a health weight for your height. You can use the NHS BMI healthy weight calculator.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/ to find out your BMI.
Cause of Obesity
- Obesity and Overweight is caused when extra calories, especially those from foods high in fat and sugar are stored in the body as fat.
- Obesity is an increasingly common problem due to environment we live in which makes it difficult for many people to eat healthily and do enough exercise.
- Genetics can also be the cause of obesity. Your genes can affect how your body uses food and stores fat.
- Some health conditions can occasionally contribute to weight gain such as underactive thyroid gain. (These can be effectively controlled with medication)
- Some medications can also make people more likely to put on weight including some medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health issues.
Symptoms of Obesity
- Difficulty in sleeping, sleep apnoea and daytime drowsiness
- Back and/or join pains.
- Excessive sweating.
- Intolerance to heat.
- Infections to skin folds.
- Fatigue
- Depression.
- Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
Treating Obesity
- Eat a healthy reduced calorie diet.
- Exercise regularly
- Join a weight management programme.
- Take part in activities such as walking, jogging and swimming for 2.5 to 5 hours a week.
- For people with certain health conditions, a specialist may advise weight loss surgery.
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Page last reviewed: 31 October 2024
Next review due: 31 October 2025