There are many debates and many differences of opinions where obese or overweight topics are discussed. Everyone has different opinions and different outlook towards this issue.
It is a known fact that a BMI between 25 and 29.9 reflects a person being overweight. Overweight is an increase in body weight by about 15 to 20 pounds from the normal/ideal weight and is not proportionate to the height.
Again, BMI above 30 reflects a person being obese. Obesity is an excessive increase in body weight by about 30 to 35 pounds or even more and is never proportionate to the height.
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Obese or Overweight: Age Factor
Similar to the height of the person, your age also plays a significant role in being obese or overweight. The real question is that how age affects these conditions.
As you age, you need to maintain your body weight accordingly. There are many reasons, one of them being your bones. With age, bones tend to become fragile, and the more your body fat percentage, the more unnecessary pressure your bones have to bear. This, in turn, would damage your bones and you will start complaining of bone related problems.
Say, for example, if you are 5’8”:
- At 20 – you have normal/ideal weight
- At 40 – you have turned overweight or obese
- At 50 – you have to come down to overweight level
- At 60 – you must maintain either a normal/ideal weight or be on the borderline of normal/ideal and overweight.
- At 60+ – you need to maintain, more or less, the same weight as of 60
(The numerical are ages in term of years)
The above tentative calculation would roughly give you an idea of what you need to do (normal/ideal weight, overweight, obese of obesity+) at the age you are in right now.
Obese or Overweight: Differences
- With relation to weight, the lean body mass in an overweight person is more compared to lean body mass in an obese person.
- To get back to normal/ideal weight within a few months, an overweight person needs to work hard as compared to an obese who will take more than just a few months to first reduce to overweight category and then, to normal/ideal weight.
- An overweight may not necessarily be overweight due to body fat percentage. It can be that the person is very muscular. Hence, they are overweight because of muscle mass, that is, the weight of muscles. In comparison, an obese has 70% and above body fat percentage. First, there is a need to reduce the body fat and increase the lean muscle mass. The next thing is to increase the amount of lean muscle in the body.
- If an overweight person cuts down on calories from 1600 to 1700 (instead of the actual 2000) daily, they can soon get back to shape. In comparison, an obese need to further cut down on calories—to 1500 (instead of the actual 2000) daily. Going back to shape would come later. The first and foremost goal would be to reduce to overweight category.
- An overweight can manage to maintain the fitness level if they are a little careful about health. In comparison, an obese cannot maintain a bare minimum fitness level because the body fat percentage comes in the way and poses a grave threat.
- Much health problems (though the risk is always there) may not be faced by an overweight if fat loss process is started from the very first day. An obese faces double health risks once the BMI records 30+. Risk percentage goes up by 4 times when BMI records 39.9!
- It is comparatively easier for an overweight person to move around. Normally, an overweight does not seem to face any problem walking around, moving from one place to another—many overweight are indeed very active on their toes! For an obese, it is equally difficult. Every step becomes tiresome, and then, preference is given to sitting than walking or moving around. This further leads to increase in body fat percentage.
Obese or Overweight: Similarities
With such differences, there are certain similarities also:
- Obese or overweight need to lose body fat percentage so that they can hit the normal/ideal weight—sooner the better!
- Obese or overweight individuals need to consume lesser calories than the normal daily calorie intake if they have to lose body fat percentage
- Obese or overweight people should involve yourself in regular workout regimes—sitting or resting and doing nothing would not help to reduce body fat percentage
- It is mandatory for all the obese or overweight people to stay on a strict balanced diet and keep a check on any diseases that might be living in their body.
Endnote
Obese or overweight people need to lose body fat percentage and the sooner they understand this, the better it would be for them in the long run.
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