Incidence of obesity, susceptible populations, and calculation of obesity degree.

**A Brief Discussion on Obesity**

**I.** Obesity, which has a relatively high incidence rate.

As people's living standards improve, more and more people are suffering from obesity, and how to lose weight has become a major concern.

There are generally two types of obesity: one is simple obesity, which is mainly caused by overnutrition and lack of physical activity; the other is pathological obesity, which is mainly caused by endocrine disorders or certain diseases.

In addition, obesity is also related to genetics. Studies show that if both parents are obese, their children have a 60-80% chance of also being obese. If only one parent is obese, their children have a 40% chance of being obese. If both parents are thin, their children have only a 10% chance of being obese.

If you observe obese people you know carefully, you'll find that not only is the body shape of an obese parent hereditary, but the location of the fat is also hereditary. If parents have large bellies, their children will also have large bellies; if parents have large hips, their children will also have large hips; if parents have thick legs, their children will also have thick legs, and so on.

Currently, the incidence of obesity is high, ranging from 7.8% to 64% worldwide. In the United States, the incidence is over 30%; in East Germany, it's 30%; in Bulgaria, it's 22%; in the Soviet Union, 22% of the agricultural population and 28% of the urban population were obese; and in Beijing, my country, the incidence is as high as 21.7%.

According to the latest statistics from the World Weight Watch Society, there are **10** countries with the most obese people in the world, in the following order: West Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Australia, Austria, the United Kingdom, Greece, Sweden, Finland, and the United States.

Although my country's obese population is not yet among the world's top ten, it's undeniable that with economic development and improved living standards in recent years, the number of obese people is increasing. Furthermore, there's a growing number of overweight primary and secondary school students. A significant portion of those seeking weight loss treatment at my clinic are overweight teenagers.

Therefore, we must attach great importance to this issue, starting now and focusing on children, to reduce the incidence of obesity in our country, so as to benefit the health and longevity of our people.

**II.** Who is prone to weight gain?

1. People whose parents are obese are more likely to become obese themselves. This issue has already been mentioned earlier.

2. People who eat a lot, especially those who love high-fat foods and don't exercise are prone to weight gain. Because they don't exercise, they burn fewer calories and their bodies absorb more, causing fat to accumulate and leading to weight gain.

3. People who used to love exercising but have stopped are also prone to weight gain. Don't mistakenly believe that exercise is the cause. Rather, it's because after stopping exercise, their appetite remains as good as before they were active, leading to increased food intake and excess calories that accumulate as fat, causing weight gain.

Some people used to be manual laborers and weren't fat, but after switching to light manual labor, they unknowingly gained weight. This is the same principle.

4. Some single men tend to gain weight after marriage. If you pay attention, you'll notice that some young men who used to live in single dormitories gradually gain weight after marriage, within one or two years, or even three or four. Based on my observations, these young men previously lived in single dormitories and ate in the communal canteen. Due to various reasons, their lives were irregular, with irregular eating habits. Before marriage, they were also busy preparing for their weddings. Therefore, most of them were relatively slim. After marriage, with a happy family, they are not as active as before. Under their wives' careful care, their lives become more regular. They eat well and sleep well; as the saying goes, "a relaxed mind leads to a plump body." Therefore, they gradually gain weight.

5. People who frequently drink large amounts of beer are prone to weight gain. Although beer contains relatively little alcohol, only about 3%, it is very high in amino acids, earning it the nickname "liquid fattening bread." Regularly consuming large amounts of beer can easily lead to weight gain, especially in the abdomen, resulting in a "beer belly."

6. Women are prone to weight gain after childbirth. This is because new mothers often eat nutritious foods without restraint, leading to overnutrition. Without physical activity to burn off the excess nutrients, they quickly gain weight. A significant number of them develop persistent obesity after childbirth and find it difficult to return to their pre-pregnancy figure.

However, some new mothers, although they gain weight in the months following childbirth, pay close attention to regaining their original figure. They take care of themselves and exercise regularly. After a period of effort, most of them are able to basically return to their pre-pregnancy slim figure.

7. Regardless of gender, weight gain is common after middle age. This is because middle-aged people are less energetic than young people, generally less active, and their calorie expenditure decreases significantly. Excess calories are converted into fat and stored in the body, leading to weight gain. In men, this fat tends to accumulate in the lower abdominal wall, while in women it tends to accumulate in the lower back, back, and buttocks.

In addition, as people reach middle age, their endocrine function is not as strong as it was in their youth, and their metabolic rate decreases, which is also a reason why they are more prone to weight gain.

8. People with endocrine system disorders are prone to weight gain. This is because people with these disorders often experience disordered fat metabolism, leading to a slower metabolism and weight gain.

**III. Calculation Method of Obesity**

Generally, an actual weight exceeding the standard weight by **10%** is considered overweight, and exceeding it by **20%** is considered obese. Standard weights for men and women are shown in the appendix at the back of the book. The method for calculating obesity is...

People typically classify obesity into three degrees: mild, moderate, and severe. A weight exceeding the standard weight by **20-30%** is considered mild obesity; **30-50%** is moderate obesity; and **more than 50%** is severe obesity.

If you are a 25-year-old woman, 160 cm tall, and according to the weight chart in this book, your ideal weight is 50.3 kg, while your actual weight is 64 kg, then your degree of obesity is calculated as follows:

Therefore, you are mildly obese.

If you are a 35-year-old male, 175 cm tall, and the standard weight according to the table is 65.9 kg, while your actual weight is 90 kg, then calculate your degree of obesity as follows:

Therefore, you are moderately obese.

In addition, there are two types of overweight people who are not considered obese.

A type of person is very strong and muscular, and although their weight exceeds the standard weight, they are not considered obese.

Another type of person has poor health and retains water in their body, which is called edema. Although their weight exceeds the standard weight, they are not considered obese.

Therefore, being overweight should not be automatically equated with obesity. A case-by-case analysis and judgment are necessary for each individual.