Obesity Treatment Service

Obesity is condition where the body has accumulated excess fat in a disproportionate way; which contributes various health risks. It results from taking in more calories than are burned by exercise and normal daily activities.

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. WHO defines overweight and obesity as follows:

• Overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25; and
• Obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

BMI provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults.

Raised BMI is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as:

• Cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke)
• Diabetes;
• Musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis – a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints);
• Some cancers (including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon).