obesity

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