Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as “overweight” and “obesity,” the risks for the following conditions also increases: Coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)and Stroke.

Being chubby maybe cute . But being overweight or obese is more than a cosmetic problem. These conditions greatly raise your risk for more and more health problems other than mentioned earlier. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.

Body Mass Index
Of several techniques for measuring the proportion of body fat, body mass index (BMI) gives a quick assessment of body composition, is unaffected by age or gender, and is calculated easily: BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2) Values above 24.9 are considered overweight (and below 18.5, underweight), and a BMI of 30 indicates that the individual is approximately 30 lb overweight, or obese. Examples are a 5-foot 6-inch person who weighs 186 lb and a 6-foot person who weighs 221 lb. An excess of 100 lb constitutes morbid obesity.

Health status is adversely affected by 2 types of body fat distribution: large waist circumference (apple shape) and large hip circumference (pear shape). Abdominal fat concentrations pose greater risk for obesity-related health problems than fat concentration elsewhere. Women are more likely to be pear shaped, and men, apple shaped.

Interventions
More often than not many obese individuals are reluctant to discuss or ashamed to acknowledge their weight problems. Others, frustrated with yo-yo cycles of weight loss and gain, have simply given up. Whatever the case maybe, they need interventions: lifestyle modification, drugs, and surgery.

• Lifestyle Modification. The only way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit; daily caloric intake of 600 kcal less than ordinarily consumed will lead to a weight loss of about 2 lb per week. People can create calorie deficits in either of 2 ways: consume less or exercise more.
• Drug Therapy. One study reviewed and analyzed many popular diets and concluded that most propose daily caloric intake of less than 1600, a reasonable calorie count for weight loss. Regardless, the challenge of dieting (or supervising a dieting patient) can defeat even highly motivated individuals, leading them to seek other interventions, such as drug therapy. Historically, clinicians have tried all kinds of medications to treat obesity. Today, only 3 prescription medications remain approved for weight loss, and each is limited in its utility.
• Surgical Options. Surgical options exist for the morbidly obese. For them, weight loss of 10% to 15% is rarely sufficient to improve health, and thus drastic measures may be necessary. Bariatric surgery has a success rate (defined as a sustained loss of 25% to 40% of body weight) at or near 90%, but it forces lifestyle changes. Candidates must realize that, after surgery, eating patterns will of necessity change. Today’s surgical procedures are much improved over the early attempts at reducing stomach size and are often done laparoscopically.

Advocacy Event for “Fat” People

Dr. Claudine Roura, Dermatologic Cosmetic Surgery, Certified Vaser Hi-Def LipoSurgeon, Phlebology, has taken an advocacy to help our kababayans on the chubby and obese side — the “Fat Run-Obstacle Race” to be held on April 14, 2013 at World Trade Center – Open Field from 5am – 9am . The run is the preliminary activity of a much anticipated event of the year in partnership with Department of Health (DOH) called “Taba Congress 2013”.

Touted to be the ultimate health and lifestyle event focusing on weight loss, to be held at World Trade Center on July 26-28 2013, the event’s objective is to usher participants to an optimal heath solution by introducing them on how to lose weight the easiest and fastest way, to keep fit, enjoy healthy lifestyle and be fabulous.

This event is open for all, however, its highlight as the congress’ title suggest, are the fat people. “We, at Taba Congress – Fat Run, believe that everyone must be given an equal opportunity to feel better and be better,” Roura said.

For more information, call (02) 4035533 / (02) 5059753 / 0915.219.5939 or visit www.tabacongress.com.

Dr. Roura is the managing director of Contours Advanced Face and Body Sculpting Institute. Her clinics have the regular menu of services for face and body enhancement. What makes her practice standout from the rest is her mastery of the art of body contouring. Her clientele, which includes mostly foreigners and well-to-do people wanted to look “perfectly contoured.”

Herself sporting a svelte, to-die-for figure, Roura’s clinics uses Vaser High-Definition Liposculpture (Vaser Hi-Def), an advanced contouring technique, performed with ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty technology (Liposelection, Vaser). Since high-definition liposculpture is designed to be a sculpting procedure rather than a debulking technique, the appropriate candidate is the person who has good muscle tone without excessive amounts of fat or lax skin. Vaser Hi-def is most effective for those who are already physically fit, and seek to add an even greater, more chiseled and sculpted look to their efforts, Roura said.

Stay gorgeous everyone!