What is Bariatric?

What is Bariatric?

The dictionary definition of the word bariatric is as follows:

1976, from Greek baros “weight,” from barys “heavy” (see grave (adj.)) + -iatric.

The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

What is obesity?

Obesity is a condition that is connected with having a surplus of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are complicated to manage when dieting. BMI is a tool used to evaluate obesity. Obesity increases your possibility of developing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension & sleep apnea.

Obesity can be further defined as:

• Irregular excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
• Significant consequences for morbidity, disability and quality of life.
• Entail a advanced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and several common forms of cancer, osteoarthritis and other health problems.
• Serious public health challenges in the World Health Organization European Region.

Obesity facts and figures:

• About 2.1 billion people, or almost one third of the world’s population were obese or overweight last year, researchers estimated after examining data from 183 countries.
• More than 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2013.
• 44% of the diabetes burden, 23% of the ischaemic heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are attributable to overweight and obesity.
• Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.
• 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.

How is obesity measured?

Obesity is measured by various means, but the most common methods used are Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference.

BMI –BMI is calculated by dividing a persons weight in kilograms by his or her height in meters squared. And adult with a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. There is not a separate BMI chart used for men and women. Both sexes use the same chart to measure obesity.

Waist Circumference – Waist circumference is a less common method used to measure obesity in an individual. This simple measurement indicates obesity & morbid obesity in adults by measuring your waist. To find your waist circumference, wrap a tape measure around the area above your hipbone and below your rib cage.

For females, a waist circumference of 35 inches or greater is considered unhealthy for men a waist circumference of 0f 40 inches or greater is considered unhealthy.

What is to blame for obesity?

There are many different causes for obesity and becoming overweight, the most popular however being, genetics (a person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese), over eating (overeating leads to weight gain, especially if the diet is high in fat), a diet high in simple carbohydrates, frequency of eating, slow metabolism, physical inactivity, medications, psychological factors, ethnicity, childhood weight and hormones.

Health risks associated with obesity.

There are many health risks associated with obesity the most prevalent being; Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, some cancers, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems.

How can obesity be controlled?

• Follow a healthy eating plan; make healthier food choices for yourself and your family.
• Focus on portion size; your portion size should be smaller than most child portion sized meals in restaurants today!
• Be active; both in your personal life and during family time.
• Reduce the amount of time on electronic deices; 2 hours or less a day is recommended.
• Monitor your weight; use BMI or weight circumference to do this.

How to live with obesity.

1. Recognize your personal history with your body. Learn from past mistakes.
2. Take a ‘body involuntary’, write down any emotions you feel about your body, take note of correlations between negative emotions and situations.
3. Bring positive images and words in to your every day life, in particular aesthetically pleasing people that look similar to you.
4. Refuse to accept discrimination. Do not be insulted or put down by other peoples comments or behavior.

Equipment needed to assist those living with obesity.

 Equipment commonly used by those suffering from obesity are; Manuel and powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking frames, static and mobile shower chairs, mobile and ceiling track hoists, electrically operated beds, pressure mattresses and electrically operated chairs (all available at Novacorr Healthcare).

For more information on our bariatric products please don’t hesitate to contact us via our website or give us a call.