Obesity Flashcards
What percentage of individuals in Canada were overweight and had obesity in 2024?
60% were overweight, and 25% had obesity.
What are the four main factors contributing to rising overweight and obesity rates?
Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and insufficient fruit and vegetable intake.
What is the current prevalence of being overweight and having obesity in men, women, and children in Canada?
Overweight: 70% of men, 59% of women, and 32% of children.
Obesity: 30% of men, 29% of women, and 12% of children.
What chronic diseases are associated with being overweight?
CVD, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancer.
What is the BMI range for pre-obesity (overweight) and obesity in adults?
Pre-obesity: BMI 25–29.9
Obesity: BMI ≥30
How is BMI-for-age used to classify overweight and obesity in children?
Pre-obese: ≥85th percentile but <95th percentile
Obese: ≥95th percentile
What is adiposity rebound, and how is it related to childhood obesity?
The point when BMI reaches its lowest (around age 5–6) before increasing again.
Earlier adiposity rebound is linked to a higher risk of obesity in adulthood.
What is the relationship between BMI and overall mortality risk?
J-shaped association: Both low (<18) and high BMI are associated with increased mortality risk.
How does BMI affect life expectancy?
A lower BMI (<18) is linked to 5 years less life expectancy.
A higher BMI (>30) is linked to up to 7 years less life expectancy.
What are the differences between apple-shaped and pear-shaped fat distribution?
Apple: Fat stored around the abdomen (higher health risk).
Pear: Fat stored around the hips and thighs (lower health risk).
What is the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat?
Subcutaneous: Fat stored under the skin.
Visceral: Fat stored around internal organs, linked to increased chronic disease risk.
Why is waist circumference a better predictor of health risks than BMI?
It directly measures visceral fat, which is associated with CVD, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
What is energy imbalance, and how does it contribute to obesity?
When energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, leading to weight gain.
What factors influence energy intake and expenditure?
Genetic predisposition, environment, food availability, portion sizes, and physical activity levels.
What are the roles of orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones in appetite regulation?
Orexigenic hormones (e.g., ghrelin) stimulate appetite.
Anorexigenic hormones (e.g., leptin, CCK, GLP) suppress appetite.
How does leptin regulate appetite, and what happens in leptin deficiency?
Leptin, secreted from fat cells, signals the brain to reduce appetite.
Leptin deficiency leads to excessive hunger and weight gain.
How does food composition affect caloric intake?
Energy-dense foods lead to higher calorie consumption.
Fiber increases food volume without added energy.
Why do sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to weight gain?
They do not suppress hunger, leading to excess caloric intake.
Contain high fructose corn syrup, which may be easily converted to fat
How does physical activity influence energy balance and obesity risk?
Increases total energy expenditure and muscle mass.
Reduces obesity risk and improves metabolic health.
What socioeconomic factors are associated with obesity?
Income, access to grocery stores, walkability of neighborhoods, and access to fitness facilities.
