In this article, the author considers contemporary perceptions of the phenomenon of excessive body weight from several perspectives: medical, cultural, social and psychological.
Excess body weight is becoming a common phenomenon in highly developed countries. This is due, among other things, to the high availability of food and everyday conveniences that significantly reduce physical activity (e.g. cars, lifts, electric household appliances). Conversations about weight and various diets and weight-loss aids are a regular topic at social gatherings, especially between women. Most often, the size of one's own body weight is judged on the basis of one's knowledge, experiences and perceptions of what values are correct. In this way, we form an opinion as to whether our appearance, and that of another person, is within the norm or whether it needs to be remedied. The basic criterion usually becomes the bathroom scale, but there are many more criteria for recognising overweight or obesity. They depend on the point of view adopted, i.e. the perspective in which the phenomenon is described.
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bodymass index (the so-called Body Mass Index, or BMI) - calculated according to the Quetelet formula: BMI = body weight (kg) : height (m2); the classification of individual BMI values, was developed by the World Health Organisation and is as follows:
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comparison of the correct body weight to the right body weight - the right body weight is calculated according to the formula: /height (cm) - 100/ - 10 % (for women) or 5 % (for men); the result indicates how many kilograms one should weigh; to assess whether one's own weight is correct one compares one's current weight (specific weight) with the calculated weight (due weight), as follows:
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body fat content in total body weight - this can be measured using a specialised instrument (e.g. Body State); the result of the measurement indicates how much body fat percentage is present in the body; it is interpreted separately for women and men, as shown below:
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waist circumference - can be measured with a tailor's centimetre; results are interpreted separately for women and men and according to the relevant ethnic group; in Europe, these values are described as follows:
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waist circumference to hip circumference ratio (the so-called Weist to Hip Ratio, or WHR) - calculated according to the formula: waist circumference (cm) : hip circumference (cm); the result is helpful in determining the type of obesity; WHR values above 0.85 in women and above 1.0 in men, are indicative of abdominal obesity, which is particularly dangerous to health.
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primary (is a primary disease, not due to other diseases; it accounts for 95% of cases) or secondary (is caused by other diseases or disorders, e.g. hypothyroidism)
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early (starts in childhood or adolescence) or late (starts in adulthood)
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gynoid (a.k.a. hip and thigh) or android (a.k.a. abdominal).
