|
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 have been summarised (SIGN, 1996) - 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
Reference: NICE
(December 2006). Obesity guidane SIGN. Obesity in Scotland.
Integrating prevention with weight management. Edinburgh: Royal College of Physicians,
Edinburgh, 1996.
|
