Obesity is not a disease in and of itself. It can be the extreme manifestation of being overweight. A 250-pound linebacker may be considered obese, but his body fat is significantly lower than average. A sedentary person can be obese despite having small muscle mass. This article will explain why BMI is important, how to calculate your BMI, and the consequences of being overweight. Obesity is a risk factor for 236 diseases and increases your risk of thirteen types of cancer.
Body mass index (BMI) is a screening tool for obesity
A BMI is a medical tool used to evaluate weight and fat content. It is a simple and quick way to evaluate a person's weight and fat percentage. It can also be a useful tool for doctors, as it can be used to assess the risk of obesity. The BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kilograms and dividing that number by their height in meters. It is not an exact diagnostic tool, however, and healthcare providers may use it in conjunction with other tests and procedures.
The BMI is not a perfect measure, since it does not take into account muscle, which is denser than fat, but it is an accurate measurement for most people. According to the World Health Organization, a healthy BMI range for adults is between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2, while 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 is considered overweight and thirty or more is considered obese. These cut points are the same for men and women regardless of age or gender.
It increases the risk of 13 cancers
Excess body fat can increase the risk of 13 different types of cancer. In the United States, over 20% of cancer cases are due to obesity. In a recent study, the International Agency for Research on Cancer reviewed cancer diagnosis data from 2005 to 2014 and found that obesity and overweight were associated with a greater risk of various types of cancer. Overall, 40% of cancer diagnoses in 2014 were due to obesity and overweight. Common cancers associated with obesity include postmenopausal breast cancer, non-Hodkins lymphoma, ovarian cancer, and stomach cancer. As a result, the authors of the study call for an increased awareness of obesity and unhealthy eating habits to decrease the risk of these types of cancer.
It affects employment
According to recent studies, obesity causes a negative impact on employment, reducing earnings. It has a detrimental effect on health, as obese people are more likely to develop illnesses and require more medical care. Also, employers may have to pay higher health insurance premiums for obese employees. Therefore, these employers may compensate for these higher costs by offering lower wages or reducing benefits. But, this does not necessarily mean that employers will discriminate against obese employees.
Despite the varying effects of obesity, the effects of obesity on employment are consistent in many countries. For example, in the United Kingdom, a third of workers are obese, which accounts for 16 million days of sick leave each year. And in the US, lost productivity caused by obesity has been estimated at $15.1 billion. This is an especially dire situation for shift workers, who are particularly susceptible to obesity. Despite the increasing concern, it is worth considering that this problem affects everyone, and is no exception.
It increases business costs
While we may not see it, obesity causes many hidden business costs for companies. For example, an increased body weight in America results in larger vehicles and greater fuel costs. This results in a direct cost of fuel and indirectly in greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of obesity on business costs goes beyond insurance premiums and health insurance costs. This article will outline some of the more significant hidden costs of obesity and how it affects business. You can help reduce these hidden costs by taking action today.
Research has shown that obesity costs businesses billions of dollars each year. Obesity increases health-care costs for employers, which in turn costs them money. In 2009, the cumulative cost of obesity on an average company was $285,000, and health care costs for obesity-related diseases cost U.S. companies $45 billion each year. The costs of treating obese workers are immense. In the meantime, preventing obesity is much cheaper than treating it.