Obesity Male

Obesity Male

Definition of Male Obesity

Men, unlike women, are much more likely to end up with central obesity – fat around the middle – the very type that is linked to the metabolic syndrome. The cost implications of not addressing this problem in its early stages are immense, with many overweight men going on to develop type-2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, some cancers, osteoarthritis and respiratory problems, along with many other more minor problems.

Obesity describes a bodily condition, where the body weight is much greater than what is healthy. Determining whether a person is Obese or not depends largely on the measurement of a person's body mass index (BMI).  A BMI, that is higher than 30-35 is considered Obese.

Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measurement that compares a person's weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, but it is a useful tool to estimate a healthy body weight based on a person’s height. Due to its ease of measurement and calculation, it is a widely used diagnostic tool to identify obesity problems within a population.  However, it is not considered appropriate to use as a final indication for diagnosing individuals. BMI was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".  Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his height.

While obesity affects both men and women, male Obesity is seen to be more on the rise. Male Obesity poses a risk to general health, leading to infertility, type II diabetes, heart diseases, and a host of other diseases related to eating disorders.  The United States is facing a major health problem with the tremendous rise in male Obesity in the past few years.

It is known that the incidence of obesity is reaching epidemic levels in the western world. For example, in the United States, the incidence of Obesity increased from 12% to 17.9% between 1991 and 1999 the incidence of male obesity in the U.S increased from 11.7% to 17.9%. According to male Obesity reports in 2004, 30.6% of the male population in the U.S was Obese.

Symptoms of Male Obesity

There are some signs and symptoms of male Obesity, which people can recognize on their own, while other signs require a professional doctor to diagnose.  Male obesity symptoms that can be recognized by one’s self are;

  • Body Disproportion - One of the most common effects of obesity is when different body features don't seem to be proportionate to each other. Facial features in particular may look disproportionate to the rest of the face. Baby faces, or excess fat in the cheeks and chin, are typical of obese individuals.
  • Male Breast Enlargements - Fat cells can accumulate, especially in boys, around the breast region.
  • Stretch Marks - Often times, purple or white barely-visible stretch marks appear around the abdomen area.
  • The Size of Male Genitals - Though in reality the size does not shrink, male genitals can tend to look smaller in proportion to the rest of the body.
  • Arms and Thighs - Fat cells can cause arms and thighs to expand, often loosing the normal amount of skin tightness.
  • Psychological Trauma - Often, in relation to obesity, individuals experience increased anxiety, stress, and difficulties in accomplishing ordinary, every-day tasks.

The above symptoms often indicate whether a person is overweight or not. While these are the most common characteristics of obesity, they are not the only ones. Also, it's very typical for some people not recognize obesity in themselves. In order to get a true diagnosis, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before attempting a treatment plan.  While there are many more symptoms associated with obesity, these are the most typical.


Begin Your Journey to Wellness with Patients Medical

Our job at Patients Medical is to listen, to connect the dots between a patient's medical history, symptoms, and their underlying causes. Patients Medical is a superb place for women and men to secure integrative and holistic health care from providers who give personalized care, partner with the patient to focus on the root cause of their illness, support their recovery, and help them maintain good health.

To make an appointment with one of our physicians, please call us at 1-212-794-8800. We look forward to hearing from you.

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