Today, we live in a world where people are becoming more overweight and obese at a very alarming rate. This is probably due to the contemporary lifestyle- which has become more sedentary, or even the type of food we eat. Whatever the cause is, the fact remains that obesity has become an alarming condition, so much that some people also refer to it as an epidemic because of the various health problems it leads to. Being overweight or obese puts you at risk of a number of health issues like hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and more. This is why everyone should know the truth about obesity; the causes, the risks, and how to avoid it. In fact, that is the aim of this article; to discuss some of the facts about obesity.
What is Obesity?
Many people get it wrong when they see a fat person and conclude that such a person is overweight or obese. There is a standard that is usually used in calculating if a person is overweight or obese, and that standard is called BMI (body mass index). Body mass index is generally calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the square of the height (m). Someone can then only be considered as obese when his or her BMI is equal to or more than 30.[1]
