obesity
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An obese patient is 20% or more heavier than their ideal weight.
Excess body weight is an important public health problem because it is associated with:
- type II diabetes mellitus
- hypertension and stroke
- hyperlipidaemia
- some cancers
Obesity is graded according to the Body Mass Index (BMI):
Healthy weight 18.5-24.9
Overweight 25-29.9
Obesity I 30-34.9
Obesity II 35-39.9
- Obesity III 40 or more
The health benefits of modest (10%) weight loss was previously summarised by SIGN- although the precise benefits will vary in individuals depending on initial body weight, current health and degree of weight loss)
- mortality
- 20-25% reduction in premature death
- 30% reduction in the risk of dying from diabetes-related complications
- 40% reduction in the risk of dying from cancer
- Blood pressure
- 10mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure
- 20mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure
- Diabetes 50% fall in fasting blood glucose levels
- Lipids
- 10% fall in total cholesterol 15% fall in LDL cholesterol
- 8% increase in HDL cholesterol
By 2030 an estimated 38% of the world’s adult population will be overweight and another 20% will be obese (4)
Reference:
- NICE (November 2014). Obesity guidance
- PHE (January 2021). Patterns and Trends in Adult Excess Weight.
- SIGN. Obesity in Scotland. Integrating prevention with weight management. Edinburgh: Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, 1996.
- Kelly T, Yang W, Chen C-S, Reynolds K, He J. Global burden of obesity in 2005 and projections to 2030. Int J Obes 2005. 2008 Sep;32(9):1431-7.
Last edited 06/2021 and last reviewed 02/2022
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