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Being obese is different from being overweight. Obesity is defined as being 20% or more over the maximum desirable weight for a man's height or 25% or more in females. Obesity is an important condition which causes significant morbidity and mortality through increased rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, some cancers and arthritis.
The body mass index (BMI) is a physical measurement used to assess an individual's total amount of body fat. Depending on the BMI value calculated, you may be underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese.
This information will be collected for educational purposes, however it will remain anonymous.
Waist circumference (WC)
Measuring a person's waist circumference (WC) is the simplest way to assess central obesity, the excess accumulation of fat in the abdominal area. Excess abdominal fat will predispose obesity-related disease, regardless of overall body fat.
The waist to hip ratio (WHR) is calculated by dividing waist circumference by hip circumference. The score from the WHR predicts the risk of developing several conditions associated with excess abdominal fat.
Your waist to hip ratio is . You do not have excess body fat distribution. Please remember that Waist to Hip ratio (WHR) is not a valid measure for underweight individuals and therefore must be conducted along with Body Mass Index (BMI). If your WHR is less than and your BMI is lower than 20 you are underweight.
Your waist to hip ratio is . Ideal is less than You have excess abdominal fat distribution. You could be at risk of developing several obesity-related health conditions. Make sure you make an appointment with your doctor for a clinical evaluation. Please remember that Waist to Hip ratio (WHR) is not a valid measure for underweight patients and therefore must be conducted along with Body Mass Index
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McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. 5th Ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.
Wahlqvist ML. Australia and New Zealand: Food and Nutrition. 2nd Ed. Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin; 2002.
Tovee MJ, Benson, PJ, Emery JL, Mason SM, Cohen-Tovee EM. Measurement of body size and shape perception in eating-disordered and control observers using body-shape software. The British Journal of Psychology. 2003; 94: 501-16.
This information will be collected for educational purposes, however it will remain anonymous.
Discussing obesity with a friend or loved one
Our views on body image mean that weight is often a very personal and sensitive issue. As such, addressing the issue of weight can often be very tricky. Overweight people often have low self-esteem – the last thing they need is someone telling them they must lose weight. A better approach may be to encourage them to join you in making healthier lifestyle choices.
Metabolic syndrome is an alarmingly common health condition, occurring in 20–25% of the world's population. In Australia, it is estimated that one in three people over the age of 25 years have the condition. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when a number of metabolic abnormalities (including insulin resistance and obesity) occur at the same time in an individual.
The glycaemic index (GI) is a numerical index assigned to a food. It is obtained by measuring the effect that a carbohydrate containing food has on blood sugar levels, compared to the effect of the same amount of pure sugar, on blood sugar levels. By consuming a diet with a lower GI, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and arterial diseases.
The problem with the GI is that it doesn't provide an accurate picture of the entire blood sugar raising potential of the food. The blood sugar response depends on both the quantity and quality of carbohydrates consumed. The glycaemic load (GL) is an extension of the GI, taking into account the quantity of carbohydrates as well.
The Mediterranean diet comes from the Mediterranean region, which includes countries such as Greece, Turkey, Malta and Italy. It is a diet based on plant foods. It is high in N-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Fat intake under the Mediterranean diet consists predominately of monounsaturated fats. The diet is also low in cholesterol, salt and sugar.
These days, many consumers pick foods depending on the attraction and temptation of the label on the front of the food packaging. However, these labels are often full of marketing hype and can contain misleading claims. To become educated consumers, we should turn to the sides and back of the food product and read the labels carefully.
Traditional methods for weight loss include reducing calorie intake, increasing physical activity, and behaviour therapy. Recently, increasing levels of obesity and associated medical conditions has heightened interest in both pharmacological and surgical treatments for weight loss. In most cases you will be treated with a combination of therapies.
Lifestyle changes remain the mainstay of treatment and are important for the long term maintenance of weight loss. All long term treatment programs require at least some lifestyle changes. Positive changes in your eating and exercise behaviour are essential for sustained reductions in weight.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological therapy used to treat many different problems, ranging from anxiety to weight loss. CBT is not used by itself to lose weight, but rather to support lifestyle changes. People who use both CBT and lifestyle changes lose more weight than those who only make lifestyle changes.
In general, the higher your LDL cholesterol and the lower your HDL cholesterol, the greater your risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease. Therefore, the guiding principle is to strive for low LDL and high HDL. Dietary changes are often the first things attempted to try to lower cholesterol levels.
Liver cleansing diets claim to remove toxins that are clogging the liver. This cleansing of the liver is proposed to help it to work more efficiently, leading to weight loss. A range of nutritional supplements and liver tonics are often recommended to accompany liver cleansing diets.
Meal replacement programs work by replacing meals per day with specialised formula food, which are a complete meal. Formulated meal replacements take various forms, including powders, drinks, soups, bars and biscuits. Meal replacement programs combine a meal replacement regimen with additional health supports such as physiotherapists.
Weight loss drugs are designed to help people who are classified as obese lose weight. Weight loss drugs should only be used in those who are morbidly obese, have a BMI above 30 who have failed to lose weight with a lifestyle program, or have a BMI above 27 in whom risk factors are already present.
Growth hormone (GH) is a hormone produced by the cells of the pituitary gland, a small gland found in the brain. Obese individuals are known to have low levels of GH. Growth hormone reduces obesity through its actions on two enzymes which control lipolysis and lipogenesis.
Surgery is often considered a last resort for patients with severe obesity with associated medical problems where other interventions have failed. Many surgical techniques have been used to treat obesity, changing in popularity over time and in different countries. The procedures differ in their abilities to produce weight loss and their side effects and risks.
Gastric banding is an operation performed under general anaesthetic. An adjustable band is placed around the top of the stomach to create a small pouch to hold food. The band is attached via a thin tube to a small "port" or reservoir, which allows the surgeon to increase the tightness of the band at a later stage.
Gastroplasty is available for the management of morbid obesity. It limits and reduces the amount of food intake possible, and is also known as 'stomach stapling'. The upper part of the stomach is vertically stapled into a small pouch of 20–30 mL, which is then connected to the rest of the stomach through a small outlet.
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure which involves the removal of excess body fat from under the skin from various parts of the body using a cannula and a suction device. The most common areas that are treated are the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms and neck.
Created: 17/2/2009
