Table of Content
Just like many countries in the West especially in North America and the European continents. Canada is also facing obesity related issues mainly because of the eating environment. The country is moving away from weight to define and manage obesity more technically as it has been recognised as a major & growing health issue in Canada. Therefore, the new clinical guide for obese people aims to find the root causes. Problems attached to obesity, and the causes of the condition of obesity. These problems can have negative impacts in the longer run for individuals who are prone to have obesity related diseases.
Since, a long time the determining factor of obesity in Canada has been that how much you weigh. However, many experts hold considerable criticisms regards to these facts in recent years. This has been so especially after the rise of the body-positive movement.
BMI & THE NEW GUIDE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS:
Hence, the experts from the Canadian health societies has taken some radical steps. The steps has made adjustments in the new clinical guide for health care professionals. This means looking beyond the BMI index, i.e. the Body mass Index. It is practically when making a diagnosis of obesity or determining if a person is actually obese. Body Mass Index, is determined after readings of weight, height, age and sex as the four key factors in determining the weight, and hence making a classification of a person in the specified ranges i.e. underweight, normal, overweight, & obese. Divided into class 1, class 2 & class 3, i.e. from low, to moderate & high-risk. These are the three classifications of Obese in the BMI chart.
The obesity care should be based on evidence-based principles of the chronic disease management, must validate patients lived experiences. Hence, move beyond the approaches of eating less. The root drivers attached to the problems of obesity is the main issue that needs addressing. This is also part of making more positive movements.
MAKING REALISTIC HEALTH GOALS INSTEAD OF WEIGHT LOSS:
Making realistic health goals instead of weight loss shall be a huge factor in reducing obesity itself. Health goals can be made in terms of walking, jogging, constant running, and cycling. Also, includes exercises in gym that are for the particular reason of losing weight. This is since decades that doctors have been telling their patients to eat less and exercise more to burn calories. Hence, according to the guidelines it can get a bit more complex, and definitely more factors needs addressing. Overdoing can result in imbalance between the energy in-take and exertions in form of exercises. Therefore, it can cause its own complications that can be dangerous in future.
Used for more accurate readings along with BMI is the waist circumference. Made from the health guide are the recommendations for the weight loss issues in particular. This is apart from the studies of patient’s family history and other health histories. A similar guide like we have been discussing is the Edmonton obesity staging system. This guide incorporates metabolic, physical and psychological parameters for the diagnosis of obesity. It is also a comprehensive guide for the recommendations of the best treatments for obesity.
THE INACCURACIES ATTACHED TO BMI:
The condition where the excess body fat has negative impacts on the person’s health. This has been the most correct definition for obesity. Also, includes various environmental, genetic and the socio-economic factors that can influence this condition. BMI also known as the Body Mass Index. Hence, it is a powerful tool for the determination of the healthy weight of a person. Hence, this is categorised into class 1, class 2 and class 3. Class 1 being in the range of (30-34.9), class 2 being (35-39.9) and class 3 (over 40).
The drawbacks associated with the tool has been identified time and again and these includes inaccurate results. It doesn’t account for muscle mass and can also lead to bias when taking the other measurements into account. BMI’s calculations can lead to people’s demotivating attitude as in reality they might not be that obese. However, the BMI would make them show more obese. Especially, for overweight people it can be the tool that can have negative impacts on an individual’s psychologies of change. Ironically, a huge part of change management program holds significance regards to the weight loss. Therefore, it is highly attached to a positive change psychology. It would automatically make you look younger and fitter.