Obesity revisited

Obesity is very common, particularly among women, in both developed and developing populations. World-wide, it is increasing, especially among adolescent and young women. Causally, there is a strong genetic factor. Principal amenable influencing factors include level of energy intake, diet compositi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSouth African journal of science Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 25 - 30
Main Author Walker, A.R.P.&Badenhorst, C.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Academy of Science for South Africa (ASSAf) 01.01.1995
Subjects
Adolescent women
Afro-American adolescent girls
Commercial weight-reduction programmes
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes
Diet composition
Diet-related cancers
Energy intake
Genetic factor
Homeothermic temperature
Hypertension
Metabolic rate
Obesity
Stigmatization of obesity
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Summary:Obesity is very common, particularly among women, in both developed and developing populations. World-wide, it is increasing, especially among adolescent and young women. Causally, there is a strong genetic factor. Principal amenable influencing factors include level of energy intake, diet composition (especially fat intake), and physical activity. Socially and in the workplace, the obese are discriminated against. While they are more prone to hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and certain diet-related cancers, the long-term gains from weight loss, although variable, appear slight. For those attempting weight reduction, basically, energy intake must be reduced and expenditure increased. However, knowledge is far from complete about obesity's cause and control. While numbers, especially of women, attempt to lose weight, oly 5% or so attain long-term success. Rewards for weight reduction are limited and weight loss is not without risk. Some have action called for action against the stigmatization of obesity.
ISSN:0038-2353
1996-7489