E66.0/E66.8/E66.9
DESCRIPTION
Overweight and obesity are abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults (> 19 years). It is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2 ).
For adults:
- overweight is a BMI ≥25; and
- obesity is a BMI ≥30.
Children aged between 5–19 years:
- overweight is BMI-for-age > 1 standard deviation above the WHO Growth Reference median; and
- obesity is > 2 standard deviations above the WHO Growth Reference median.
For children < 5 years of age:
- overweight is weight-for-height > 2 standard deviations above WHO Child Growth Standards median; and
- obesity is weight-for-height > 3 standard deviations above the WHO Child Growth Standards median.
GENERAL MEASURES
- maintain ideal weight, i.e. BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2
- weight reduction, i.e. if BMI > 25 kg/m2
- follow a prudent eating plan i.e. low fat, high fibre and unrefined carbohydrates, with fresh fruit and vegetables
- regular moderate aerobic exercise, e.g. 30 minutes brisk walking 3–5 times/week (150 minutes/week)
- screen for hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia, and manage appropriately (See: Hypertension , Type 2 Diabetes mellitus , Prevention of ischaemic heart disease and atherosclerosis).
- calculate risk of developing cardiovascular events and manage appropriately (See Prevention of ischaemic heart disease and atherosclerosis .
REFERRAL
Dietician and support group, where available