What is Obesity?
Obesity is a very serious health problem that affects many people around the world. It can create physical and psychological complications that can be life-threateningly dangerous. Treatment for this eating disorder can be a life saving procedure and is also likely to lead to a dramatic improvement in their quality of life.
Obesity can have some very severe consequences if it is left untreated. It can lead to physical complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, high cholesterol, arthritis, skin disorders, and many others. It can also lead to psychological problems like depression and anxiety disorders or other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Obesity is often accompanied by intense feelings of shame and a strong sense of isolation. Competant therapy can help the individual develop the lifeskills to successfully manage their weight and live successfully.
Obesity: Signs and Symptoms
Doctors determine an ideal weight for a person based on their gender, age, and typical activity level. If a person is more than 20% over this ideal weight they are considered to be obese so long as they have a body-fat percentage greater than 30% for women or 25% for men.
Obesity: Causes and Treatment
Science is yet to isolate the cause of obesity but has identified a number of factors that are associated with a person becoming obese. These include physical factors like genetics and metabolism; psychological factors like personality, coping style, stress; and environmental factors like the family dynamic. People who become obese do so because of a complex interplay of these factors. The eating disorder develops as a means to "cope" with the stressors of life.
Obesity treatment should begin with a trip to a doctor for a complete physical examination. Because obesity has far reaching consequences it needs to be treated comprehensively, but it is essential to begin by ensuring the physical health of the patient. Further eating disorder treatment will involve a collaboration of professionals from many clinical disciplines who will focus on treating each aspect of the illness.
