Obesity and the differences that can be seen in the adipose of an obese person
Obesity is a condition in which fats excessively accumulates on the body to the extent that impairs individual’s health. Therefore, obesity is typically a body mass index (BMI) either equal to 30 or more; though people with BMI either equal to or greater than 25 are overweight. There are two types of obesity, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of fat cells, conditions that closely link obesity to adipose tissues. For instance, hyperplasia leads to increased number of cells while hypertrophy causes an enlargement in the number of cells. Generally, the two mechanisms ultimately lead to growth of the adipose tissues of obese individuals. Hyperplasia leads to an extreme doubling of the number of adipose cells especially in children. However, hypertrophy leads to enlarged and centralized distribution of the same cells in most adults. Hence, foods with higher fat contents promote faster growth and enlargement of adipose cells that eventually increase the quantity of calories that need redistribution and storage through lipid turnover processes.
Factors that influence food intake
Factors that cause fluctuations in intake of high-fat diets as regards this context are related to genetic, behavioral influences, physiological factors and environmental conditions. For example, some of the physiological factors include age, sex, Basal Metabolic Rate, physical activity and drug use and hormonal secretions. Again, an individual’s health is a physiological factor that leads to intake of less food that is simple and bland in case of ill-health. Similarly, drug use leads to intake of less food especially of low-fat diets due to depressed appetite. For the case of cigarette consumption, an individual may limit the quantities of sweet-tasting diets that are usually associated with higher caloric contents. Others like lactation, pregnancy, and higher metabolic rates promote intake of high-fat diets that accelerate the rate of adipose cells increment and enlargement; thus, the eventual repercussions will be those of obesity.
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However, the environmental influences are associated with customs and traditions, parental and peer influence, media advertisements that always increase consumption of high-fat diets. For example, some environmental temperatures lead to fluctuations in individuals’ moods and emotions that promote choice of foods with higher caloric contents. Such may also be aggravated by celebration events organized during specific seasons. Finally, media and advertising promotes marketing of mouth-watering frozen pizzas that influence food choices associated with the fast-food meals. Most children have an emotional connection with high-fat diets and even some adults involve in impulse eating of junk foods to comfort them in case of depression, stress and anxiety.
Health risks associated with obesity
Age is a critical risk factor linked to obesity because the complication can manifest itself in both young and adult individuals. For the aged, they live sedentary lifestyles associated with reduced quantities of muscles that increase chances of becoming obese. Again, the reduced hormonal changes coupled with the minute muscle mass results in decreased metabolism that require fewer calories. Thus, it becomes difficult for such individuals to regulate the excess weight accordingly because physical inactivity thwarts individuals’ efforts to burn calories as regards the unstable insulin levels and automatic weight gain is inevitable.
Additionally, social and economic issues have close linkages with obesity. For instance, inadequacy of areas and facilities to carry out physical exercises can encourage obesity in families classified under lower social class. This concept involves people who spend most of their leisure time with lazy folks who do not exercise regularly. Economic constraints also lead to accessibility of unhealthy foods because people with lower incomes cannot afford healthy diets daily. Hence, they resort to junk foods that promote obesity due to lack of fruits and vegetables albeit with oversized portions.
Finally, pregnancy is a risk factor specifically associated with weight gain in women. This is because some women necessarily gain weight during pregnancy though they fail to lose it upon delivery due to extremities involving exercises and commitments. Hence, the overall weight increment continues with the number of children delivered though this may fluctuate due to both physiological and genetic factors.
Description of the person evaluated
I evaluated a 35year old patient who teaches middle school children at the Caucasian highlands. Upon medical diagnosis, I realized that she was suffering from asthma and Bursitis though the co-morbidities involved obesity, hypertension and Type II Diabetes. Therefore, I asked her of her previous treatments, which included the use of corticosteroid to deal with asthma conditions, insulin pump during diabetic therapies, and other medications. I physically examined the patient and observed weak muscles linked to low back pain that she complained about for over a number of months. She further confirmed that she lost interest in physical activities for the last 4 months due to bad moods resulting from daily dosage of insulin drugs. From my observations, I identified pink stretch marks, all over her abdomen and thighs with manifold bruises on the arms though with thin skin. Hence, I concluded that she had massive fat deposits on her upper back and the midsection.
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Common body shapes and how to assess body fat composition and weight
Many people usually show two common body shapes, namely: apple shaped and pear shaped. Apple shaped individuals have extremely enlarged waists intended to support massive weight around the abdomen. However, pear shaped individuals have enormous fats accumulated around the hips leading to narrower waists. An individual can determine his/her weight by calculating the body mass index (BMI), which is expressed mathematically as the ration of weight (kg) to height (M2). Hence, this will aid in determining the person’s fat composition since a result of 25 and above is classified as overweight while 30 or more is obese.
