Obesity is a silent killer

Obesity is a silent killer

Obesity is a Bengali synonym for the English word obesity. Obesity refers to a special condition of the body when excess fat accumulates in the body.

Every life requires energy or calories to survive. And these calories come from our daily food intake. An adult needs to consume about 2,000 calories per day. When people consume more calories than they need, they remain unused as body fat. If this process continues for a long time, fat accumulates in the body. As a result, body weight increases and various complications occur.

Body mass index or BMI is usually used to measure obesity. The body mass index or BMI of a person is obtained by dividing the weight of a person by the weight in kg and the height in meters by the square of the height. If one's BMI is below 18.5, he is called underweight. And 18.5-24.9 BMI is called normal weight. On the other hand, 25.0-29.9 BMI is called overweight and 30.0 or more BMI is called overweight or obese.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity has more than tripled in the last two decades. More than 30 percent of people in the United States suffer from obesity. Obesity is no longer just a health problem but a disease. And every year at least 3 million people die from this disease. So many analysts see it as a huge threat to global public health, such as cancer and AIDS.

Causes of Obesity:

1. Eating extra calorie rich food than required, II. The habit of eating extra spicy food and fast food, 3. Hereditary causes. Studies have shown that genetic or hereditary causes are more likely to be obese. If either parent has obesity, the probability is 40% and if both have obesity, the probability is 80%. 4. Alcohol, 5. Luxury living etc. Obesity also occurs as a side effect of some medications such as antidepressants and corticosteroids.

Studies have shown that the rate of obesity is much higher in developed countries than in developing countries. On the other hand, urban people suffer from obesity more than rural people. Again, the rate of obesity in women is relatively higher than in men. Unplanned urbanization and over-reliance on technology are blamed for obesity. At present, both the amount of physical activity and the opportunity have decreased. Even 20% of the schools in our country do not have adequate playgrounds. Children are constantly being deprived of opportunities for physical activity and sports. As a result, they are at risk of becoming obese.

On the other hand, unplanned housing structures and luxurious living are also responsible for obesity. Due to the shortage of adequate number of parks in the cities, people are not getting the opportunity to exercise. Moreover, most of the women in our country are housewives. They spend most of the day lying down or watching TV. They don't do a lot of physical work or get a chance to do it. As a result, he became obese.

Obesity causes various complications in the human body. For example, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, pulmonary insufficiency, etc. Obesity also causes various problems in girls, including reproductive problems. Statistics show that obese patients often suffer from mental retardation.

At present, there is no alternative to awareness to prevent this 'epidemic' of obesity. Experts say that in order to avoid this disease, it is necessary to develop the habit of regular exercise and moderate diet. Fast food, extra spicy foods, alcohol, etc. should be avoided. Moreover, you have to live a healthy life and control your weight. A doctor must be consulted if any complications occur.