Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. It is defined by body mass index (BMI) and further evaluated in terms of fat distribution via the waist?hip ratio and total cardiovascular risk factors.BMI is closely related to both percentage body fat and total body fat. For Europe the highest obesity rate was slightly above that, with Hungary weighing in with 28.5 percent in the east and Britain becoming the fattest nation in the western part of the continent, a recent study carried out across 27 nations by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revealed.

With a suitable diet, anti-obesity drugs may be taken to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption. If diet, exercise, and medication are not effective, a gastric balloon may assist with weight loss, or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length, leading to feeling full earlier and a reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food.Excess weight, especially obesity, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some musculoskeletal conditions and some cancers. As the level of excess weight increases, so does the risk of developing these conditions. In addition, being overweight can hamper the ability to control or manage chronic disorders.