Obesity
Obesity means carrying so much body fat that it harms health. Doctors usually measure it with the body mass index (BMI): 30 or more is obesity, and a large waist is also a warning sign. It raises the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, joint pain and some cancers, and is becoming more common in Afghan cities. Even losing 5 to 10 percent of body weight brings real health benefits.
Symptoms
- Body weight much higher than healthy for your height
- A large waist (more than about 94 cm in men or 80 cm in women)
- Shortness of breath when walking or climbing stairs
- Knee and back pain
- Snoring and daytime sleepiness
- Tiredness and low mood
Causes
- Eating more energy than the body uses, especially oily food, sweets, white bread and sugary drinks
- Little physical activity and long hours of sitting
- Poor sleep and stress
- Family tendency (genes)
- Some medicines (for example steroids and some medicines for mental illness)
- Some hormone conditions such as an underactive thyroid or polycystic ovary syndrome
Prevention
- Fill half your plate with vegetables and salad; choose beans, lentils, eggs and lean meat
- Cut down on sugar, sweet tea, soft drinks, fried food and large portions of rice and naan
- Walk briskly for at least 30 minutes on most days
- Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night
- Check your weight and waist from time to time
Treatment
- A realistic eating plan, ideally with a nutritionist
- Regular physical activity, increased step by step
- Slow, steady weight loss (half to 1 kg per week) is safest
- Treatment of related problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnoea
- Weight-loss medicines or surgery only for some people, under specialist care
- Do not use slimming pills, teas or powders from the bazaar without a doctor
Common questions
How do I work out my BMI?
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres multiplied by itself. For example, 80 kg and 1.70 m: 80 ÷ (1.70 × 1.70) = about 27.7. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity.
Are slimming pills from the bazaar safe?
Many unlabelled slimming pills, teas and powders contain hidden medicines or harmful substances that can damage the heart or liver or affect mood. Only use weight-loss medicines prescribed by a doctor.