Being overweight or fat is defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can adversely affect your health. There are several indicators of being overweight. The effects of excessive caloric intake increase the risk of developing many diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in both adults and children. The diagnosis of overweight or obesity facilitates the assessment of several parameters in a simple way.

What is overweight?

Overweightis the state of accumulation of adipose tissue above the amount necessary for the proper functioning of the body from the physiological point of view. Adipose tissue has important functions in the human body, i.e .:

• storing energy reserves when the body is supplied with excess nutrients;
• thermoziolation, thanks to which the body is able to regulate the temperature;
• immunomodulating, as it affects the functioning of the immune system;
• metabolic because it affectsinsulin resistance.

When the body receives more nutrients from food than its current needs require, excess nutrients accumulate in adipose tissue. When this condition lasts too long,excess weight gradually develops. Then (in stages) there are many unfavorable metabolic changes that significantly worsen the proper functioning of the body.

Being overweight, depending on the amount of excess calories consumed, can progress toobesity. Today,the problem of overweightconcerns many societies mainly due to: a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular physical activity and an incorrect, unbalanced diet.

The problem of overweight and obesityaffects more and more people every year, in almost every age group, and is becoming an epidemic. Obesity has long been considered one of the diseases of civilization.

How to recognize overweight?

The diagnosis of overweight or obesity facilitates the assessment of several parameters in a simple way. It is worth using them simultaneously, because then they give a full picture of the state of the body – its mass, height, amount of adipose tissue and its location.

• The BMI(Body Mass Index,Quetelet Index) is the basic tool for examining overweight. It is calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by the square of body height in meters.Overweight is indicated by a BMI in the range of 25-30, whileobesity is indicated by a BMI exceeding 30. However, it should be remembered thatthe Quetelet indexis not the most accurate measure. It only gives general information about the possibly increased risk of developing many serious diseases. It does not indicate the amount of accumulated fat or its location.
• TheBody Volume Index (BVI) is a computerized measurement of the human body using special 3D software. It allows you to assess the distribution of adipose tissue in the body.
• The thickness of the skin foldis a measurement that should be performed by a specialist for proper analysis. It consists in measuring the thickness of the skin fold in a designated area (i.e. on the shoulder or under the scapula). The data collected in this way allows the calculation of the total amount of adipose tissue in the body based on the established pattern of the location of adipose tissue in the body.
• Body weighingis a measure of the number of kilograms. It is the most common indicator, but at the same time the least accurate, as it does not take into account any data other than kilograms.
• Electrical impedance analysismeasures the electrical resistance of a low current. The obtained results allow to obtain data on the percentage of adipose tissue in relation to muscle mass, which results mainly from the difference in electric conduction between adipose tissue and muscles.
• Bone densitometry (DAXA), based on the differences in the density of individual tissues, allows for the exact location of adipose tissue. However, it is a measurement method that requires expensive equipment and qualified personnel.

The causes of excess weight

Thereare many different factors that contribute to being overweight. Malnutrition is indicated as the main cause of it. It is not only about an unbalanced, unbalanced diet, but also ordinary overfeeding (intake of excessive amounts of food inadequate to the current needs of the body).

Overweight is also caused by insufficient physical activity. Lack of exercise or too little exercise, combined with excess caloric intake, simply leads to the accumulation of body fat.

Andthere are also various diseases in the course of which you are overweight, suchas:

• Cushing’s syndrome;
• hypothyroidism;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• hyperinsulinism;
• depression.

Overweight quite often occurs as a result of the therapy, especially in the case of antidepressants, corticosteroids,insulinor older generation contraceptives. Genetic diseases contributing to the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue (e.g.Prader-Willi syndrome) also contribute to thedevelopment of overweight .

Various factors contribute to the development of obesity: genetic, biological, psychological and environmental.As for genetic mutations, they may concern genes responsible for the maturation of fat cells, the regulation of energy consumption, the level of basal energy metabolism and thermogenesis.

Biological factors are some diseases, e.g. damage to the central nervous system, hypothalamus, and hormonal disorders, e.g. Cushing’s syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, common nowadays, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome.This group of factors also includes drug-induced obesity. Weight gain is influenced by steroids, antiallergics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics,insulinand some beta-blockers.

Very important, as in most chronic diseases, as well as in obesity, are environmental factors, industrial development, technical progress and modern means of transport, which reduce physical activity. There have also been changes in nutrition – greater food availability, increased caloric content and serving size, and more processed carbohydrates and fats in the diet. In addition, the rhythm of meals has changed. Increased pace of life, higher demands and exposure to stress are some of the factors behind increased consumption. Despite the fact that obesity is a multifactorial disease, it should be remembered that it is always the result of a positive energy balance.

According to the WHO, obesity is a disease in itself and is a serious and independent risk factor for many chronic diseases, which are the leading cause of death in most countries of the world.Compared to lean people, obese people are three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, i.e. high cholesterol and triglycerides, gallbladder stones, and sleep apnea.

Ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction occur much more often, as well as joint disease or osteoarthritis due to their greater load. Certain cancers, such as breast cancer in postmenopausal women, endometrial and colon cancer, are twice as common in obese patients. Other disorders concern the genital organs – cystic syndrome may occur, as well as impaired fertility and fetal abnormalities.

What are the effects of being overweight?

Being overweight is responsible for the increased risk of many diseases that are dangerous for the proper functioning of the body. Gradually it leads to: limitation of activity and thus limitation of mobility in joints, decrease of vitality and vigor. It entails a gradual decrease in satisfaction with one’s appearance, and in the long term it leads to the development of obesity.

Being overweight promotes the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases:atherosclerosisandischemic heart disease,arterial hypertensionorvaricose veins. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle may lead to fatty deposits of organs (e.g.liver, kidneys), which significantly limits their proper functioning.

Overweight in children

The consequences of being overweightthreaten the health of not only adults, but also children.Being overweight in childhoodpromotes obesity in adolescence and increases the risk of many diseases – cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension),type 2 diabetesor sleep apnea.

Overweight in childrenhas a detrimental effect on the developing bone and joint system.Overweight children and adolescentsalso have problems with accepting their appearance or low self-esteem, which translates into difficulties in contacts with peers.

How to fight excess weight?

It is worth startingthe fight against overweight by trying to determine its cause.Ifthe excessive accumulation of fat tissueis not a direct result of a disease (e.g. Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Prade-Willi syndrome), you may try to lose weight yourself. Then, it will be helpful to change your eating habits (reducing the consumption of sweets, fatty and fried foods, and increasing the share of fresh vegetables and fruit in the menu) in conjunction with an increase in physical activity (walking, walking, cycling, swimming).

It is not recommended to introduce drastic,restrictive dietsthat lead to a rapid weight loss in a short time. Such a procedure usually causesa yo-yo effect, which instantly reduces the achieved results. A prudent, low-calorie diet should provide all valuable nutrients for the proper functioning of the body. It may be helpful to take (over-the-counter)chitosanin the form of easy-to-swallow tablets. It is a natural substance whose action is, among others,on reducing the absorption of fat from food.

If you notice that you are overweight with the start of therapy (e.g. when taking a new preparation), it is worth reporting this fact to your doctor in order to make any changes.