Believe it or not, a survey conducted in the UK revealed that only about 10% of the obese population realizes that they are obese. Even more concerning is that most of these obese individuals do not understand the health dangers that obesity brings with it.
You may be thinking, do they really not know that they are obese? Could they be in denial because the reality is just too overwhelming? It could be either of these or perhaps they just never thought about it before.
Could you be one of these individuals? Understandably, this may be a touchy subject for some, but here at IBI Healthcare Institute, we care about you and your health and are here to help you.
Today we are going to talk about obesity, how it can affect your health, ways to determine if you are obese, how to find out how many pounds overweight you are using an excess body weight calculator, and what options are available to you to correct it.
What Is The Difference Between Being Overweight And Obesity?
Individuals who are overweight have a higher body-fat percentage and weigh more than is considered normal or desirable for their frame and gender.
When an individual has an excessive accumulation of fat on their body that begins to impair their physical health causing damage to internal organs, joints, muscles, and other areas of the body they are considered obese.
The term class III obesity is used when individuals reach 100 pounds of excess weight, or serious health conditions develop such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Obesity is the 2nd ranked cause of preventable premature death.
Five Questions You Can Ask Yourself To Identify Obesity
Here are five questions you can ask yourself to help determine if you may be suffering from obesity.
- 1. How Big Is Your Waist?
- A waist circumference of more than 35 inches for a woman or more than 40 inches for a man may indicate that you are overweight or possibly obese.
Visceral fat is the type of fat that tends to accumulate around our midsections, can wrap around our internal organs, and is the kind we refer to as “bad fat”. It can increase your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s, stroke, etc.
Measuring your waist circumference can help determine if you may have excess visceral fat. This does not necessarily identify obesity however, it may be an indication of ill health.
To measure your waist, place a tape measure at the halfway point between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips and wrap it around your body just above your belly button. The tape measure should be taut but not digging into the skin. Breathe out naturally and measure.
- 2. Do You Snore?
- Snoring is a common sign of being overweight or obese. The fat in the neck can partially block the airway and induce snoring. Fat that is centralized around the belly and chest can also promote snoring because it raises the diaphragm, restricts the rib cage, and reduces the size of the lungs. When the capacity in the lower lungs is reduced it restricts the airflow that is needed to support the neck and windpipe.
- 3. Do You Experience Chronic Heartburn?
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD can be another indication of being overweight or obese. It occurs when acid from the stomach flows into the esophagus and most often occurs a short time after eating and lasting for a few minutes or hours. There may also be a burning sensation in the throat or chest, a bitter or sour taste in the mouth, or a cough.
The risk of GERD seems to be higher for women and in the caucasian population than in men or other ethnicities. GERD is believed to be exacerbated by extra belly fat exerting pressure on the stomach, the formation of a hiatal hernia that creates the backflow of acid, or changes driven by hormone levels such as excess estrogen exposure that often occurs in those suffering from obesity.
Chronic heartburn caused by the reflux of acid into the esophagus can cause complications and even develop into cancer. There are three disorders of the esophagus that are related to obesity: GERD, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and Barrett’s esophagus which is a precursor to cancer.
- 4. Are You Always Tired?
- There is a link between chronic fatigue and obesity and there may be many factors simultaneously at work contributing to the problem.
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine conducted some research in 2006 that reported the main link between obesity and chronic fatigue were metabolic and psychological factors. They found secondary causes of fatigue to be disruptions from sleep caused by weight-related disorders.
Obesity often causes a condition called sleep apnea which happens when breathing is interrupted and abruptly disrupts sleep. Insulin resistance is a condition that is common in obese individuals and can prompt fatigue. Obesity is linked to depression which is a known cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
- 5. Do Your Joints Ache?
- Excess body weight has a significant impact on the risk of developing arthritis. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of experiencing joint disease as it puts a degree of weight and stress on joints that they were not meant to withstand (knees, back, and feet). Excess weight also causes inflammation and swelling which can be painful and impact mobility.
What Is BMI And Why Is It Important?
The BMI scale is used by many doctors and healthcare professionals as a quick baseline to determine if an individual is at or near a healthy weight for their frame and gender. BMI is an acronym for body mass index and while it can not gauge an individual’s body fat ratio and is not an exact indicator of their state of health, it is widely used in the medical community to indicate future weight-related health issues.
| BMI Range | BMI Category |
|---|---|
| <18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30 to 34.9 | Class I obesity (formerly obese) |
| 35 to 39.9 | Class II obesity (formerly severe obesity) |
| 40 to 49.9 | Class III obesity (formerly morbid obesity) |
*Note: The terms morbid obesity and morbidly obese are no longer widely used and have been replaced by a class system, however, you may still find these terms referenced concerning obesity.
Using the BMI scale to indicate obesity is not flawless and does not allow for variations such as differentiating between fat and muscle mass. If using the BMI calculator most NFL football players would be considered obese but this is not true. It is simply a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to help categorize individuals into weight classes but has limitations.
What Is An Easy Way To Determine Your Excess Weight?
One way to determine how overweight you are is by using an excess body weight calculator. This type of calculator uses the parameters of your body (height and weight) to determine your BMI category and identify the corresponding ideal weight.
An excess weight calculator will not only give you an idea of how much weight you will need to lose to reach your “ideal weight” but it will also provide weight loss projections. The excess weight loss calculator will include projected weight loss results for 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-procedure.
You can use the excess body weight calculator to get an idea of the weight loss potential you may experience after undergoing different weight loss procedures. Try out the IBI Healthcare Institute’s BMI calculator for excess weight loss now!
Using a BMI calculator for excess weight loss projections is a useful tool to get an overall idea of your current weight situation and some different weight loss options. The most precise way to determine this information is through a consultation with an expert in bariatrics and obesity.
Sometimes determining obesity means asking “the hard” questions. But be assured that once you have finished asking yourself these questions, we have answers and options for you!
At IBI Healthcare Institute, we understand that the weight loss journey can be challenging and difficult but you do not have to navigate through it on your own. We are here to provide guidance and support to help you reach your weight loss goals.
Contact us today to set up an appointment to learn more about your options for weight loss.
