About obesity

Obesity is a chronic disease with a complex aetiology that is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a health risk. The World Health Organization defines obesity as having a BMI above 30, with the caveat that this may not be the correct measure for some people (especially athletes).

Obesity is considered to be a condition in which body fat constitutes more than 25% of total body weight in men and 30% in women. The increasing prevalence of obesity during childhood development is worrying, as it translates directly into a higher risk (up to 17.5 times) of obesity and related diseases in adulthood. A diagnosis of obesity at the age of 6 means a 25% risk of obesity in adulthood, Obesity at the age of 12 is already a 75% risk.

In clinical practice, due to the etiopathogenesis, the following are most often distinguished:

• Simple obesity also called alimentary (Latin: alimentum – food) – is the most common type of obesity found in 98% of obesity cases in children. The cause of this obesity is an excessive supply of calories in relation to the body’s energy expenditure. This type of obesity is conditioned by the environment and consists of immoderate consumption of highly processed foods while limiting physical activity.