Body Fat and Eating Disorders

Body Fat and Eating Disorders
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Abstract
Obesity has emerged to be a National Epidemic where individuals have adopted various eating disorders in the quest to improve their appearance. Most people are worried about their appearance rather than the damaging health problems related to excess body fat. Obesity is a complex health issue that results from a combination of contributing factors ranging from personal behaviors, genetics, environment, genetics and exposure to various diseases and drugs. Environmental changes that have occurred during the last few decades predispose humanity to obesity. There are several techniques of assessing body fats to determine the extent of obesity or fitness. Weight loss is an individual responsibility which starts with believing that it is possible to lose excessive body fat. Eating disorders predisposes individuals to excessive weight gain or loss. There are several efficient and long-lasting treatment strategies for eating disorders. The best approach to treating eating disorders and obesity is through psychological counseling intertwined with physical exercises to burn excessive body fats.
Body Fat and Eating Disorders
Apart from the increase in body weight, excess body fat exposes obese individuals to the risk of major health concerns such as arteriosclerosis, heart disease, cancer, depression, stroke and diabetes (Cassell & Gleaves, 2006). Obesity poses a threat to an individual’s lifespan since most of the major health problems are life threatening.

A healthy dietary plan encompasses dietary patterns interlaced with regular physical activities. Unbalanced dietary patterns due to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa are the leading cause of obesity (Fairburn & Brownell, 2002). Lack of physical exercises to cut off the excessive calories causes energy imbalance which in return aggravates into a health problem.
Nowadays, people consume fast foods and other unhealthy foods and drinks which are regularly being advertised. However, cars are misused even on distances should involve walking since people are no longer interested in walking. Others spend most of their time indoors since the advent of new technology and automation has lessened human physical activities. Obesity has a strong correlation with genetics where progenies of obese parents are more likely to develop excessive weight gain (Birmingham & Treasure, 2010). Research shows that the side effects of various pharmaceutical drugs may cause weight gain by altering body function to store more body fats.
The most common method of measuring body fat is the body mass index (BMI) where physicians use BMI tables and online calculators to specify the average weight of a healthy person based on their height. Healthy individuals have a definite limit of the waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio used to determine abdominal obesity. Physicians also use skin calipers to measure skin thickness and body fat. However, various equations are used to evaluate the body fat percentage. Bioelectric Impedance encompasses sending electric impulses through the body and recording the level of resistivity as the signal moves from one part of the body to another (Cassell & Gleaves, 2006). Current faces more resistance while moving through body fat and it is, therefore, easy to compute the body fat percentage using a set of predefined equations. Underwater weighing and air displacement Plethysmography may also be used to measure obesity where researchers use formulas to estimate body fat index alongside body volume and density.
It all starts with believing that it is possible to lose excessive weight. This approach helps prevent weight loss-sabotaging comportments by instigating a mindless eating solution. However, everyone should consider having a physical exercise program to burn the excess calories in the body. Typical physical and aerobic exercises include visiting the gym, walking and actively engaging the body in our everyday life. Avoiding junk and fast foods is pivotal in limiting the amount of body fats (Cassell & Gleaves, 2006). Creating a dietary plan is, therefore, crucial in the quest to secure a balanced and healthy diet. However, any body weight loss attempt should be slow and gradual to avoid offsetting metabolism balance which may lead to regain of the lost weight.
Excessive weight loss is characterized by anorexia nervosa due to self-starvation fearing weight gain. This eating disorder leads to low blood pressure and heart arrhythmias due to derailed metabolism caused by malnutrition, dehydration, and low body temperatures. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by extreme overeating and induced vomiting. This chronic eating behavior causes excessive weight gain and may cause obesity-related health problems such as arteriosclerosis and heart attack. Binge eating is associated with bulimia and anorexia nervosa but encompasses obsessive exercises and periods of self-starvation (Munsch, 2005). This may lead to excessive weight loss or gain and other related health problems such as obesity or malnutrition.
Psychological counseling coupled with the cautious attention of the medical and nutritional necessities proves to be the best approach in treating eating disorders (Birmingham & Treasure, 2010). Physicians advice that early diagnosis and intervention is the head start for recovery. However, health is a personal responsibility which everyone should consider resetting their metabolism activities to counter cases of weight gain while preventing weight loss.
References
Birmingham, C. L., & Treasure, J. (2010). Medical management of eating disorders. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Cassell, D. K., & Gleaves, D. H. (2006). The encyclopedia of obesity and eating disorders. New
York: Facts on File.
Fairburn, C. G., & Brownell, K. D. (2002). Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive
handbook. New York: Guilford
Munsch, S. (2005). Obesity and binge eating disorder: 13 tables. Basel [u.a.: Karger.