Assessment of Obesity, Presumed and Proven Causes and Prevention Strategies: A Review

Abstract

The obesity epidemic has been widespread in many countries, and has several adverse consequences. So many factors, some probable, others verified and documented, are known to contribute to the obesity problem in developed and developing countries. Nutritionists and other health professionals need to be skilled in understanding these various causes and their health implications. They should also be able to assess excessive body weight in clinical and other settings. Armed with this knowledge, health professionals should therefore be able to advise consumers and clients struggling with weight management on cost-effective preventive strategies to prevent or reduce incidence of obesity. In addition, nutritionists should be able to advise food manufacturers to make and market healthy food products. This paper will address the growing concern on obesity epidemic by reviewing the presumed and published or proven causes of obesity and the various methods for measurement of obesity. Strategies for preventing obesity will also be discussed. Such strategies would include health education, lifestyle changes, physical activity, diet and behaviour modifications as well as reading food labels and proper food selection. Preventive strategies for obesity and overweight when properly implemented are very cost effective especially at personal and community levels and will ensure good health and wellness in many populations. Keywords IntroductionObesity and overweight trends have reached epidemic proportions in many countries [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], and have serious health and socio-economic consequences. In addition, obesity has negative medical, psychological and quality of life consequences, drains health care resources and reduces life expectancy. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and WHO project that obesity rates worldwide would increase very significantly by 2025 unless appropriate intervention is taken [8,9]. In the USA, between 2011 & 2012, the percent of US adults aged 20 years and above who are obese was reported to be 35.1 %, while the percent of US adults who had excess body weight (overweight and obesity)in the same period was 69.0% according to published reports [2,10]. Obesity and related chronic diseases are no longer a problem of affluent countries alone, as poor developing countries, middle income countries or countries undergoing economic transition, are also affected by the epidemic [4,[6][7][8]. Global, national and state public health agencies as well as their nutritionists, researchers and educators have raised awareness or taken immediate action to arrest the increasing weight trends and obesity in adults, the youth and children [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Despite the high prevalence of obesity in many parts of the world, segments of populations (such as geriatric, very sick people, preschool children, pregnant & lactating women) suffer from underweight [7,[17][18][19]. In some developing countries, various types of unhealthy weight such as obesity, overweight and underweight, can coexist...

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