Body weight

Body weight is of increasing interest to the general population due to its close relationship with body image. Nowadays, many people of both sexes dedicate part of their time to take care of their body and body weight, in order to conquer affective relationships and success in the environment where they live.

However, the change from the traditional healthy diet to a globalized diet and the trend towards a more sedentary lifestyle have also increased the risks of suffering from overweight and obesity, disorders associated with the appearance of other diseases such as diabetes and arterial hypertension.

An adequate body weight is important for the maintenance of physical and mental health throughout life. From the physical point of view, this parameter is related to food, nutrition and metabolism; from the psychological point of view, it influences body image, self-esteem and personal satisfaction; and socially, it is related to social valuation, affective and sexual life.

Body weight: It is the measure that expresses the amount of body mass that a person's body contains. From body weight, and taking into account other parameters such as height, sex and age, it is possible to estimate certain characteristics about the health conditions of a person.

Is the desirable body weight always the right one?

Desirable body weight is the weight that each person wants to reach and maintain in order to feel good; it depends on personal cognitive, psychological and esthetic elements, influenced by social factors. The desirable weight is not always the right weight.

What is the right body weight?

Adequate body weight is the weight that promotes optimal health and minimizes the risk of disease. If you are concerned about your weight because you have noticed that your clothes are too loose or tight, you are easily fatigued, or you have suffered from health problems such as fatigue, high blood pressure, high blood glucose or cholesterol, the first step to take is to consult a nutritionist to assess whether your current weight is healthy or unhealthy.

You can also evaluate your body weight yourself as a preventive method, for which two easy methods are recommended:

• Determine BODY MASS INDEX (BMI).

• Measure the CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WAIST.

BMI: The BMI can be obtained through tables, graphs and it is also very easy to calculate from the body weight and height of the individual, by performing the following mathematical operation:

• IMC= BODY WEIGHT / HEIGHT²

Where body weight is expressed in kilograms and height in meters. For example: Let's calculate the BMI of an individual weighing 65 kilograms and 1.65 meters tall (165 cm):

• IMC = 65 / 1.65 X 1.65

• IMC = 65 / 2.72

• BMI = 23.8 kg / m²

• The BMI of the individual is 23.8 kg / m².

Next we will see if the individual's BMI is adequate. The BMI allows us to classify people into the following categories:

• Underweight: When the BMI is less than 18.5.

• Adequate weight: When the BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.

• Overweight: When the BMI is in a range between 25.0 and 29.9.

• Obesity grade one: When the BMI is in a range between 30.0 and 34.9.

• Obesity grade two: When the BMI is in a range between 35.0 and 39.9.

• Obesity grade three: When the BMI is greater than 40.

Waist circumference: The measurement of waist circumference is an indirect measure that is recommended to know the levels of abdominal fat. Fat accumulation in the abdomen is associated with increased health risk. A waist circumference of more than 88 centimeters for women and more than 102 centimeters for men indicates an elevated risk.

We must keep in mind that both BMI and WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE value can be used as a screening method, but they are not useful to diagnose body fat levels or to estimate the health status of individuals, for that we must always resort to health services.

Alterations in body weight

Alterations in body weight by default (loss of body weight). The gradual and moderate weight loss does not cause health problems, however, when weight loss is considerable, even if it occurs gradually, it can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a disease that increases the risk of anemia and deterioration of the individual's physical and mental capacities.

Most frequent causes of weight loss:

• Diets oriented and controlled in consultations by specialists: this is the only way that guarantees weight loss without deterioration of the individual's health.

• Dietary regimens followed by individuals without the guidance and periodic control of the specialist. These include almost all diets disseminated by social networks, non-specialized magazines and other media. Their use is not recommended as they can affect the health of the individual.

Most frequent causes of weight loss:

• Diets deficient in nutrients for economic reasons.

• Psychiatric disorders, such as stress, depression, anxiety, anorexia nervosa, bulimia and stress.

• Diseases: Intestinal parasitosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, celiac disease, peptic ulcer, gastroduodenal reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, tuberculosis, HIV disease, lymphoma, leukemia and neurological diseases.

Alterations in body weight due to excess (overweight and obesity):

• Overweight and obesity are defined as an excessive accumulation of fat or adipose tissue in the body. Obesity is considered a chronic disease of a complex nature, which increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer.

Causes of obesity:

• While obesity has multiple causes, and is influenced in part by genetic factors, in most cases it is due to an energy mismatch. This occurs when there is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended through physical activities.

What factors increase the risk of obesity?

• Sedentary lifestyle: The decrease in physical activity reduces the body's energy expenditure, so if food intake levels are maintained