Body Mass Index, popularly known as BMI, measures obesity. It is a measurement based on height and weight and is an indicator of obesity of a person. BMI is divided into three classes. Class I has BMI of 30-34.9, class II 35-39.9 and class III BMI >40. National Institutes of Health has defined normal BMI at 18.5-24.9.
Distribution of fat in the total body also plays a very important role as far as diseases due to obesity are concerned.The diseases that are common to obese persons are hypertension, type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, some cancers (colon, prostate, breast), gastrointestinal disease, and skin diseases.
Causes and effects of obesity
Obesity can be caused due to three reasons – genetics, lifestyle and diet. Too much comfortable lifestyle and regular consumption of excessive food are the main factors behind obesity. In some very rare cases, obesity is caused due to hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome.
If any person records a BMI of 25 or more, he or she must follow a healthy balanced diet, which has fewer calories per day. A low calorie diet has around 1000-1400 calories per day. Since he is an obese person, he or she must go for very less fat intake and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.
USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans has suggested a diet for average obese Americans, which insisted for a variety of foods throughout the day. It includes fruits and vegetables five times a day in addition to whole grains, lean meat and low-fat or non-fat dairy products.
Prenatal Diet
During pregnancy, the expecting mother must have enough nutritious food so that the newborn sees the world, healthy. The following things are very important during pregnancy-
1)Calories – 200 or 300 calories must be added every day during second or third trimesters.
2)Protein -- It supplies materials for the growing tissues, which includes the placenta, the mother's blood and the baby. Doctors advise 74 grams of protein everyday during pregnancy.
3)Calcium – It is needed during the last three months when bone formation of the baby takes place. It is better to drink additional one quart of milk everyday.
4)Iron – Some iron supplement is necessary during the last three months, as the baby needs iron at that time. Mothers need it to increase their red blood supply.
5)Folic Acid – This vitamin is needed at the earliest stage of pregnancy when cell division takes place. It helps in brain and spine development. Have foods like orange juice, spinach and legumes or go for some vitamin supplements.
6)Fluids -- At least six to eight glasses of liquid a day is recommended, as some extra fluid is needed to feed the increased blood volume. Otherwise, it may affect the kidneys.
7)Sodium – It regulates the water in the body and thus 2,000 to 8,000 milligrams of sodium a day is very much needed during pregnancy.
It is always advisable to avoid junk food, alcohol, and
Caffeine during pregnancy as these may do damage to the body.
Summary
One must measure the Body Mass Index or BMI regularly to have a control on the obesity. Regular low fat and low calorie diet can help in reducing the obesity of a person.
Diet during pregnancy is very important, both to the mother and the child. During pregnancy, mother must intake in sufficient quantities of Calories, Calcium, Protein, Iron,
Folic Acid, Fluids, Sodium and must avoid junk food, alcohol, and caffeine.
