Obesity Flashcards
What is obesity?
- excess adiposity
BMI =
wt (kg) / ht(m)2
proxy measure
fat mass + fat-free mass
why is BMI useful
useful population measure of overweight and obesity across gender and age for adults
was it circumference
indicator of intra-abdominal or visceral fat
- males >9.4 cm
- females > or equal to 80 cm
this puts you at an increased risk of health problems
Monogenic forms of obesity
– rare (<5%)
– single gene disorders
• gene mutations e.g. LEP, LEPR, MC4R
Polygenic/ common forms of obesity
• Polygenic/ common forms of obesity
– complex interactions between genes and environment
• gene-gene
• gene-environment
individual variation in obese phenotype
Genes modify
WHO dietary recommendations for populations and individuals
- Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding
- Avoid adding sugars/starches to formula
- Allow child to regulate food intake rather than feeding until the plate is empty
- Assuring optimal micronutrient intake to promote optimal growth
- Promote an active lifestyle, limit TV viewing
- Promote intake of fruit and vegetables
- Restrict energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods
- Limit intake of free sugars e.g. sugar-sweetened soft drinks
- Limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats
- Limit salt (sodium) consumption
WHO Global strategy on diet, physical activity (PA), health (2004)
- Reduce risk factors for chronic diseases that stem from unhealthy diets and PA through public health actions
- Increase awareness and understanding of the influences of diet and PA on health and the +ve impact of preventive interventions
- Develop, strengthen and implement global, regional, national policies and action plans to improve diets and increase PA that are sustainable, comprehensive and actively engage all sectors
- Monitor science and promote research on diet and physical activity
