The percentage of people who are overweight and obese is on the increase, there are more than 1 billion adults in the world who are over weight and 300 million of these are obese.

The percentage of young people who are over weight has more than tripled over the last few years and among children in the age group 6 to 19 years, over 9 million young people are thought to be over weight.

These are startling figures when you think about the consequences being over weight and particularly obesity has on the health, being over weight or obese can increase the risk of many diseases and affect the health, some of which include:

• Hypertension

• Type 2 diabetes

• Coronary heart disease

• Gallbladder disease

• A stroke

• Respiratory problems

• Some types of cancer such as breast cancer and colon cancer

Why is this on the increase?

Studies have shown that we are getting less and less exercise and eating more foods which are high in sugar and saturated fats, more people are eating less healthily instead turning to fast food or junk food as a major part of their diet.

This is often blamed on the world we live in today, people don’t have time to plan and buy foods that are healthier then cook them, it is so much more tempting to just order a take away and have it delivered.

Snacking also has a big part to play particularly with young people and children who are always on the go and can’t take the time out to eat proper healthy meals.

When does being overweight turn to obesity?

The term over weight and obese are terms for ranges of weight that are more than what is considered to be healthy for a given height. For adults weight and height are used to calculate a body mass index, this finds the amount of body fat.

An adult who scores between 25 and 29.9 is said to be over weight, if the person were to score over 30 then they would be classed as being obese. Other methods used to give an estimation of body fat are measurements of skin fold thickness and waist circumference.

Testing for obesity or being overweight

You can perform a simple test at home to determine if you are overweight or becoming obese, you can determine your waist circumference by using a tape measure and fitting it snugly around your waist.

This gives you a good indication of the amount of abdominal fat which can then give you an indication of the risk of developing health problems in the future.

The risk increases if you are a woman and your waist measurement is over 35 inches and in men if it is over 40 inches. If after taking this simple test you are concerned that you may be over weight then it is in your best interest to start doing something about it.

Gradually increase the amount of exercise done per day and start eating a more healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and if you have to snack then snack on fruit or fresh carrot sticks instead of chocolate and cakes.

If you are a lot over the amount of inches recommended then it is advisable to see your Doctor and he will probably recommend that you see a dietician to help you.

A recent study has shown that a startling 1 in every 5 children in the USA is over weight, children who are over weight or obese have fewer health related problems than adults do, however they stand the chance of carrying their weight problem over into adulthood.

Doing so then places them at risk of developing heart disease and diabetes later in life. A child who is over weight or obese is a prime target for bullies, often as a result of the weight problem, they can become a loner who develops a sense of low self esteem.

Why do children become obese?

There are many reasons why a child can become obese; the most common causes in children are genetic factors, an unhealthy diet, not enough physical exercise or a combination of these factors.

Very occasionally the problem can be caused by a hormone problem and a blood test should always be taken by the Doctor to rule out this condition.

Weight problems also tend to run in families so if the parents are overweight then the children stand a chance of doing the same, especially when the problem is down to an unhealthy diet.

The child’s activity level and diet play a crucial part in determining weight and more and more children today are not getting enough physical exercise.

More children are sitting in front of the TV or playing video games or sitting at a computer now than ever before, this is one major factor determining the rise in obesity in children.

What health problems does a child who is obese face?

There are a number of conditions that being obese can increase the risk of, diseases such as:

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Problems with the bones

• Early heart disease

• Problems with the skin such as acne, fungal infections and heat rashes

How can I tell if my child is overweight?

Common sense will often tell you by sight if your child is over weight or is heading that way but the best person to confirm any suspicions is your Doctor, your Doctor will measure your child’s height and weight and take into consideration your child’s growth pattern and age.

It is sometimes hard to determine if a child is in danger of becoming over weight or obese as children grow in spurts and they may seem a little over weight but then have a spurt in height and level out months later.

What you can do to help your child if they are over weight

Support is the main thing if your child is over weight, if your child knows you support him/her no matter what they weigh then they are far less likely to withdraw into themselves.

It is also important to talk with them about there health problem and steps that can be taken to help them lose a little weight if necessary. Children learn by example so if you start exercising a little more and start eating more healthily then so will your child.

Try to curb the amount of TV they watch or the time they spend in front of the computer and instead do family activities together, such as going for walks after dinner, going swimming or playing sports. All of these will make for a better healthier way of life for not only your child but also the rest of the family.

Obesity is not just about how the person looks, it also poses more serious medical issues, any person who is 40% or more over weight is twice as likely to die earlier than a person in the recommended weight zone. Obesity has been linked to several very serious medical conditions including:

• Diseases of the gallbladder especially gallstones.

• Developing high blood pressure.

• Developing some types of cancer.

• Diabetes.

• Gout.

Developing breathing problems which can include sleep apnoea; this is a condition where breathing is paused during sleep.

• Asthma.

Health experts all agree that the more obese a person is then the more likely they are to suffer health related problems. People who are 20% over the recommended weight can gain significant health benefits from going on a diet and losing weight.

People less than 20% above a healthy weight should do everything they possibly can to try and lose weight especially if any of the conditions below are met:

• There is a family history of certain chronic diseases. People who have had relatives who have had diabetes or heart disease have been found to develop these conditions more if they are over weight or obese.

• Pre existing medical conditions exist. Cholesterol levels that are high, high blood pressure and levels of high blood sugar are all warning signs of obesity related diseases.

• Apple shape. This is when the weight is concentrated around the stomach and these people are more at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or some forms of cancer.

Even a weight loss of just 10 to 20 pounds can reduce the risks significantly and bring health improvements.

Heart disease and obesity

People who are overweight are twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for strokes and heart disease, being over weight or obese contributes to a condition called angina, which is pain felt in the chest which is caused by a decrease in oxygen to the heart. Obesity is also linked to sudden death without warning from a stroke.

Diabetes and obesity

Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes and is a major factor in early death, heart disease and blindness. Over weight or obese people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as a person of normal weight.

Cancer and obesity

Several types of cancer are associated with obesity more so in women than men, these include breast cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the uterus.

Gallbladder disease and obesity

Diseases of the gallbladder and gallstones are common in over weight people and those suffering from obesity but it is not entirely clear why.

Sleep apnoea and obesity

Sleep apnoea is a very serious condition which affects breathing in the sleep, it is commonly associated with people who are over weight or obese. Sleep apnoea can cause daytime sleepiness and increases the risk of heart failure.