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Obesity: More Than a Weight Problem

Obesity is More Than a Number

Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterised by excess body fat that increases the risk of disease. It is not simply about appearance or clothing size — it affects how the body functions internally and how it responds to stress, hormones, and inflammation.

Clinically, obesity is commonly diagnosed using Body Mass Index (BMI).

A BMI of 25 or higher is classified as overweight.

A BMI of 30 or higher is classified as obesity.

BMI is a useful screening tool, but it does not directly measure body fat. It cannot distinguish between muscle and fat, and it does not show where fat is distributed in the body. For this reason, BMI is only one part of assessing health risk.

A Growing Concern - Globally and in South Africa

According to global data published in 2022:

  • Approximately 2.5 billion adults worldwide are overweight.

  • Of these, more than 890 million adults live with obesity.

  • Global obesity rates have more than doubled since 1990.

In South Africa, national data over recent years show:

  • Nearly half of adults are overweight or obese.

  • Around 68% of women and about 38% of men fall into the overweight or obesity category.

  • Approximately 13% of children aged 6–14 are overweight or obese.

These figures remind us that obesity is not rare — it is one of the most significant health challenges of our time.

Why Obesity Matters for Health

Excess body fat increases the risk of:

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • High blood pressure

  • Heart disease and stroke

  • Certain cancers (such as breast and colon cancer)

  • Joint disease and mobility problems

Even modest excess weight can increase long-term health risk. As body fat increases, so does the likelihood of metabolic complications.

This is why obesity is viewed medically as a disease state — not because of how someone looks, but because of measurable health risk.

It Is Not Simply About Willpower

One of the most harmful myths around obesity is that it results from laziness or lack of discipline. Science shows otherwise.

Science shows that bodyweight regulation is influenced by:

  • Genetics

  • Hormones that control hunger and fullness

  • Insulin response and metabolic rate

  • Sleep quality

  • Stress levels

  • Emotional health

  • Medications

  • Socioeconomic environment

  • Food availability and marketing

These factors interact in complex ways. Two people can follow the same eating plan and respond very differently.

This is why obesity cannot be reduced to “eat less and move more.” That advice may be part of the solution, but it is rarely the whole story.

Why One-Size-Fits-All Does Not Work

If obesity were a simple equation, we would have solved it by now.

There is no universal diet, no single exercise routine, and no shortcut that works for everyone. Following someone else’s transformation story may inspire you, but copying their method does not guarantee the same outcome.

Health improvement requires an approach that considers:

  • Your medical history

  • Your metabolic profile

  • Your lifestyle

  • Your stress load

  • Your personality

  • Your support system

Real change happens when strategies fit your reality.

A Practical Way Forward

If you are living with overweight or obesity:

  • You are not alone.

  • This is not a personal failure.

  • Change is possible. but it needs to be personalised

Rather than focusing only on weight loss, focus on improving measurable health markers:

  • Blood pressure

  • Blood glucose

  • Cholesterol levels

  • Strength and mobility

  • Energy and resilience

Sustainable progress is rarely dramatic. It is structured, realistic, and aligned with who you are.

Health does not begin with comparison.
It begins with understanding (who you are).

Obesity is complex — but with the right approach, complexity can be managed. And when your plan fits your biology and your life, real progress becomes possible.

written by

Dr Susan de Beer

PhD (Biokinetics)

Pr no: 7591012

Tel No: +27 (082) 940 7194

Address: Lassie street 704, Garsfontein,

Pretoria, South Africa, 0081

Email address: susan@riab.co.za

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