Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition. The body stores so much fat that this increases the risk of other conditions. Obesity can have serious consequences for health.

When do you have obesity?

Obesity means having severe excess weight. This can easily be calculated using the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a number that determines the relationship between height and weight. If your BMI is higher than 30, you are considered to have obesity. Would you like to know your BMI? Click here to calculate your BMI. If you are short and muscular, you may also have a higher BMI. This does not necessarily mean that you have obesity.

What are the consequences of obesity?

Obesity increases the risk of developing other health problems, such as:

• Diabetes (type 2 diabetes).
• Heart problems.
• High blood pressure.
• Sleep apnoea (not breathing during sleep).
• Certain forms of cancer.
• Shorter life expectancy.
• Physical complaints affecting the feet, ankles, knees, hips and back.
• Reduced stamina (tiring quickly).

What causes obesity?

People with obesity generally consume too much energy (eat too much) in relation to their energy requirements (physical activity). Heredity or genetic predisposition may play a role.

The body needs a certain amount of energy to maintain all its basic functions, such as circulating blood, controlling the brain and keeping the organs working. This is called the basal metabolic rate. The basal metabolic rate is expressed in calories. The basic calorie requirement is the number of calories you need to get through a day without additional physical exertion.

Of course, you do more in a day than simply lie still. The activities and movement you undertake during the day also require energy. Adding this extra energy requirement to your basic calorie requirement gives you the total number of calories you need each day. If you consume more than this, you take in more energy than you need, and the risk is that you will continue to gain weight.

On average, women need 2000 calories per day and men 2500. This depends on your age and lifestyle, however. You can therefore calculate approximately how many calories you should consume each day. Click here to calculate your daily calorie requirement.

Heredity
Heredity can also play a role in obesity. One person uses more energy than another because of a faster metabolism. Body composition is also important. Muscles use more calories at rest than fatty tissue. Although these factors can play a role, the main problem is often still that someone eats too much.

Other causes
In exceptional cases, obesity may be caused by a metabolic disease, medication use or a mental health condition.

What effect does age have on obesity?

Age itself does not affect obesity. However, as we get older, our basal metabolic rate decreases. We then need fewer calories to maintain the body's basic functions. 

The basal metabolic rate is partly determined by the hormones in our body. This is why people often complain of weight gain and being unable to lose weight around the time of the menopause or male menopause. It is therefore important to eat less and/or exercise more as we get older.

What are the risk factors for developing obesity?

Eating too much and eating an unhealthy diet are the main causes of obesity. However, there are many risk factors that increase the chance of developing obesity:

• Eating disorder.
  Problems with eating can disrupt the metabolism, especially when periods of eating very little alternate with periods of normal or excessive eating. The body does not understand this and stores extra fat. These fat reserves are useful during periods when too little is eaten.
• Eating too many carbohydrates.
  In addition to the number of calories, too many carbohydrates (sugar) can disrupt fat storage.
• Stress.
  If stress continues for too long, the hormone cortisol can build up in the body. Cortisol increases fat storage and appetite.
• Too little sleep.
  A good night's sleep is important for the body's hormones. If the body cannot recover because of too little sleep, this can also lead to increased cortisol levels. Night workers are more likely to be overweight.
• Hormone-disrupting substances.
  Hormones are important for metabolism. Medication or toxic substances can disrupt the hormonal balance.
• Stopping smoking.
  Smoking suppresses appetite and food tastes better after you stop.

What can you do yourself about obesity?

It is important to pay attention to what and how much you eat. The number of calories is listed on every product in the supermarket, except fruit and vegetables. It is therefore important to check the label to see how many calories something contains. Even products that appear healthy can contain many calories.

Tips

• Pay attention to the number of calories.
• Get moving and stay active. Take the stairs instead of the lift and, for example, cycle to work.
• Find a sport you enjoy. You are more likely to keep up a sport you enjoy.
• Prevent stress. During stressful periods, try to schedule time for relaxing activities. This could be exercise, reading a book, making music or another hobby.

If you have obesity, it is best to ask for help with reducing your body weight. A dietitian or nutritionist can help you. Trying random diets is not advisable. The body still needs to receive the right nutrients. Reducing your calorie intake drastically is not always advisable either. As mentioned above, the body also needs energy.

Exercise
In addition to diet, exercise is an important factor in losing weight. To find out which type of exercise or sport is good for your body, it is advisable to make an appointment with a physiotherapist. They can advise you about the best exercise for your body and help prevent injuries when starting a sport.

Many physiotherapy practices offer special exercise programmes for people with obesity. This gives you the opportunity to work on your weight in a group with others in a similar situation, under the supervision of a physiotherapist.