Overweight and obesity are terms used to describe abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that can impair health. They are typically defined based on Body Mass Index (BMI):
- Overweight: A BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m², indicating weight that exceeds the healthy range for a given height but is not yet classified as obesity.
- Obesity: A BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher, further categorized into classes:
- Class 1: BMI 30–34.9 kg/m²
- Class 2: BMI 35–39.9 kg/m²
- Class 3 (Severe/Morbid Obesity): BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²
Excess weight is linked to a host of chronic health conditions, including:
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Osteoarthritis
- Certain types of cancer
Key Drivers of Obesity
The epidemic of overweight and obesity is fueled by a combination of factors:
- Increased consumption of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods
- Disruption of gut microbiota
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Genetic predisposition
Current Approaches and Challenges
Common strategies for addressing obesity include pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery, dietary supplements, and low-carb/high-protein diets. While these approaches may yield short-term results, they are often unsustainable in the long term. Additionally, many of these interventions fail to address the root causes of obesity, such as poor fiber intake, environmental influences, and psychological factors.Â
