OBESITY-A ROYAL DISEASE
     OBESITY is taking alarming proportions in the society now a days due to various factors. Luxurious life style, indiscriminate dietary habits, lack of exercise have increased the incidence of OBESITY manifold. OBESITY is a chronic desease, characterized by the localized or generalized collection of fat at the wrong places and in wrong proportions. Yes I would call obesity a chronic disease, which should be treated as such and due attention should be taken to find out the underlying cause of OBESITY and treat it. Now, when we label obesity as a disease, the treatment has to be carried out under strict Medical supervision and care.
OBESITY can be classified as:
     ANDROIDS or Male Pattern Obesity
     GYNOIDS or Female Pattern Obesity
     In ANDROID type of obesity, the accumulation of fat is generally in the upper part of the body. This is likened to an Pear. The fat in this type of Obesity is usually present on the face, neck, shoulders, chest and upper part of the stomach. The Gynoid type of Obesity is the condition in which the accumulation of fat is lower half of the body like abdomen, thigs, buttocks, and legs. This is likened to a Pear. Besides Androids and Gynoids types of Obesity, we find a generalized type of Obesity, where almost whole of the body is affected and the body looks like barrel.
     Though obesity is often a nutritional mismanagement i.e. intake of calories is more than the amount spent by the body, it can also be caused by a number of the factors. Obesity is caused by various other factors like Hormonal imbalance, post natal obesity, menopausal obesity, food addiction, depression, and so on, the list is endless.
     Human body gets calories from three sources i.e. Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats. Carbohydrates and Proteins provide 4 calories per gram, whereas Fats provide 9 calories per gram. Carbohydrates are the easiest form of energy which is assimilated very fast and gives quick energy. Proteins on the other hand are also a very valuable source of energy providing the body with much needed immunity and strength and also useful in day to day requirements of the body. Fats are the storehouse of energy and also very important for the body, but as you know that the excess of everything is bad therefore it should be taken in adequate quantity.
     The consequences of Obesity are many. Heart problems, Diabetes, Hypertension, Joint pains, Osteoporosis, Stroke, certain types of cancers, Piles etc. Take the cause of joint pains, think of walking 1 KM carrying away suitecases of 15 KG. each in each hand and see how easily you can get tired. Similarly you are carrying the extra burden day in and day out. Just think about the amount of hard work, your back and knnes are doing to support this extra weight. Your heart has to pump harder to push the much needed blood to your vital organs. All this leads an overall reduction of your age and also to a lifestyle full of complications, which in turn make the like miserable.
     The treatment of obesity though not simple is not very difficult. The treatment should be aimed to treat the cause rather than just crash diets or irregular vigorous exercises. The treatment should firstly undertake the evaluation of Obesity. The treament plan should comprise of :
Diet Management
Behavioural Managemant
Exercise
Surgery
Supportive Measures
     Drugs are indicated only for the particuar Pathology, otherwise the role of drugs in the treatment of Obesity is very limited. The role of behavior modifications is very significant for the treatment of obesity. The treatment should always be carried out under proper medical supervision.