**Can I Stop Growing Fatter? An Introduction to Obesity (Part 1)**

Obesity is an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure. It is charactetized by abdominal visceral adiposity although fat can be deposited peripherally.

The clinical indication of obesity can be seen manifesting in the pathological complications. It can be recognised (diagnosed) by individual without sophisticated techniques.

Majorly, the body mass index (BMI) is one of the diagnostic measures for obesity which can simply be put mathematically as the weight (H) of patient divide by the square of their height (m). A BMI less than 19 signifies underweight. Between 20 and 25 is a normal weight. 26 to 29 is overweight, above 30 but less than 40 are two classes of obesity, while a BMI higher than 40 indicates morbid obesity.
The waist circumference can also be measured to indicate obesity usually measured at a level midway the lowest rib and the iliac crest. A waist circumference greater than 102cm in men and 88cm in women indicate obesity.

Complications that may result from being obesed are too numeeous, among are group of complications viz. Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disease, endocrine and reproductive disorders, neurological disorders, psychiatric and rheumatological disorders. Knowing all these, obesity must be prevented or better still treated.

Although, this disorder is multifactorial, western life style play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Studies have shown that, diet control, exercise, medication and surgery may be pivotàl in the amelioration of the illness.

Watch out for part II where I will state how dietary control can help in the prevention, management and treatment of obesity