Weight management for obesity – Stages, diagnosis, and prevention
Obesity is one of the most common medical problems in the country, and almost one-third of the adult population of the country requires weight management. Technically, if an adult who is over the age of 35 years has a BMI of 30 or more, they will be considered obese.
Let’s take a look at the stages of obesity weight management and how to diagnose and prevent it.
Stages of obesity
There are broadly six stages of obesity weight management.
- Denial
This is the first step of any behavioral issue, but the fact is that there is a mathematical calculation for the ideal weight and one for obesity as well.
Even after realizing that the weight is off the scale, it takes time for people to register the next steps. Whether one wants to maneuver eating habits or increase exercise every day, people take time to implement plans.
The weight management phase starts here. This is an inclusive action and it is not limited to only eating healthy or working out. One must eat well, exercise regularly, cut down on bad habits, maintain a healthy sleeping schedule, and various other things to keep oneself from obesity.
Getting to the goal might seem difficult at first, but the weight management journey gets easier as you see the results. Soon enough, it becomes a habit and not just an activity that you’re keeping track of.
It’s not enough to just reach the goal; staying there is equally important. You cannot begin to deviate from the diet plans once the goal is reached.
The last phase is an acceptance that this is a long journey, and not a goal-to-goal activity. One must keep eating healthy and exercising throughout your life to stay healthy.
Diagnosis of obesity for weight management
Obesity is fairly easy to diagnose. Any person having a BMI of more than 30 is considered obese. Body Mass Index is a number that establishes a relation between a person’s height, weight, and age. Apart from this, there are several other factors that determine obesity, and on which basis the condition can be diagnosed. These include skinfold thickness and waist-to-hip comparisons. Further, there are tests including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and MRI scans that can further help a doctor determine obesity in a patient.
Prevention of obesity with weight management
Beyond the cosmetic repercussions of obesity, there are many chronic issues that one might face if one is obese. Several diseases and conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and some serious heart problems can arise due to obesity. Further, obesity also becomes a risk factor for multiple types of cancers. To avoid the risk of obesity, every individual must always maintain a healthy diet and regular fitness activity so that there are no health issues in the long run.
There are three main factors affecting the risk of obesity including genetics, environment and community, and psychological and other such factors. While genetics has a direct correlation and there’s no absolute way of preventing obesity due to genetics, the activity level of an individual can be increased for weight management. Further, one must find solutions to depression and other emotional problems before it translates into obesity. Apart from these, a sure-fire way for weight management and obesity prevention is eating less unhealthy food.
