Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat that often affects health. It is a chronic health condition that develops over time and increases the risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Classification

Generally, doctors use the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a screening tool to determine obesity. BMI is a calculation that compares body weight in kilograms (kg) with height in square meters (m⊃2;). This calculation is used because it is easy and inexpensive to perform. The reference used in Indonesia is as follows:

• BMI 18.5 - 25 kg/m⊃2; is normal
• BMI >25 - 27 kg/m⊃2; is overweight
• BMI >27 kg/m⊃2; is obese

The classification above can be used to determine obesity, but there is also an international classification. However, sometimes these references may not be suitable for use in Indonesia due to differences in body size. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the classification for determining obesity is as follows:

• BMI <18>
• BMI 18.5 - <25>
• BMI 25 - <30>
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m⊃2; is obese

Furthermore, obesity is then classified into 3 levels:

• BMI 30 - <35>
• BMI 35 - <40>
• BMI ≥ 40 kg/m⊃2; is obesity level 3

Although obesity can be determined using BMI calculations, this tool is not accurate when used to measure athletes or bodybuilders. This is because they generally produce high BMI scores as the majority of their body composition is muscle, not fat. In addition to BMI measurements, excess body fat can also be determined based on waist circumference measurements, commonly referred to as central obesity. The criteria are:

• ≥ 90 cm for males
• ≥ 80 cm for females

Causes of Obesity

Basically, obesity is caused by consuming more calories than the body needs. For example, if you consume a total of 2500 calories daily while your requirement is only 1800, and this continues in the long run. However, obesity is not just about calories; there are several other factors that can cause it, both controllable and uncontrollable:

1. Excessive Caloric Intake

The main source of excess calories comes from fast food, where each portion contains high calories, high fat, high sugar, and high sodium. Also, there are many sweet foods and drinks with high sugar content. One reason why these foods are popular is because they taste good, are affordable, and easily accessible.

Excessive calorie consumption is not only due to daily eating habits but can also be influenced by psychological factors such as anxiety, boredom, loneliness, or even depression. These factors cause someone to consume certain foods (usually high in calories) to activate the pleasure center in the brain.

Moreover, the widespread advertising through television and social media encourages the consumption of these foods. Advertising makes these products appear normal in daily life, reinforced by numerous promotions and discounts. Whether willingly or not, the enthusiasts will increase.

2. Sedentary Lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle is a lifestyle with little physical activity. Examples include lying in bed all day, playing games for hours in front of the computer, sitting more than walking while working, or choosing to use a vehicle rather than walking for short distances.

Additionally, there are uncontrollable causes of a sedentary lifestyle, such as disability or elderly people, which cause them to have limitations in movement. The less movement, the fewer calories burned. When the calories consumed are higher than the calories burned, obesity occurs.

3. Hormonal Disruption due to Lack of Sleep

Some studies show that lack of sleep increases the risk of weight gain, leading to obesity. This happens due to hormonal changes. Lack of sleep causes a decrease in leptin production (appetite suppressant hormone) while the body continues to produce ghrelin (appetite-stimulating hormone).

4. Medications

Some types of drugs usually used to treat certain diseases can cause weight gain. For example, antidepressants, steroids, anti-seizure drugs, diabetes medications, and beta-blockers. Therefore, if concerned about weight gain, discuss with the doctor whether the medication will impact body weight or not.

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