A study of the heredity of obesity

INTRODUCTION1.1 OBESITYIn its simplest sense, obesity can be defined as a condition of excessive fat accumulationto the extent that health may be impaired. Obesity reflects a continual positive energybalance, in which energy intake consistently exceeds energy output and whereundesirable weight gain occurs. Although a common feature in obese individuals is anincrease in body fat, the degree of excess fat and its distribution within the body variesconsiderably between obese individuals.Depending upon the quantity of fat and place of depositions, obesity can be categorizedas:1) General obesity2) Regional obesityGeneral obesity is basically an overall increase in the body fat. Regional obesity, on otherhand is defined as "Android" and "Gynoid" on the basis of the place of deposition of fat(Hartz et al, 1984). The excessive deposition of visceral fat in abdominal region is calledas "Android type" or "Abdominal" or "Apple shaped" obesity whereas the deposition ofexcess body fat on the hips, buttocks and thighs is known as "Gynoid type" or "Pearshaped" obesity. Vague (1953) was the first to point out that "Android" or centralisedobesity was more closely associated with diabetes, gout, and atherosclerosis than themore peripheral "Gynoid" obesity.HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITYObesity is associated with numerous health problems including impaired physicalfunction and quality of life, development of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia,and CVD (Kopelman,1992). Of particular importance for cardiometabolic disease is theincrease in abdominal obesity that occurs with advancing age. The two fat depots.