ONCE THE TOTAL BODY FAT AND ITS DISTRIBUTION IS DETERMINED, WHAT IS CLASSIFIED AS OBESITY?
As years go by there have been various classifications of obesity. The different classifications are complementary and necessary in the clinical evaluation of each patient with obesity.
Cellular Classification
Done according to the characteristics if the adipose tissue. This classification is no longer used because it does not show the different risks of illness. There are two types:
Hypertrophic Obesity: this happens in the adult stage of life and for that reason is not susceptible to the production or multiplication of fat cells. For that reason, the adipose tissue is characterized by having adiposities at a normal number but with a large number that are carrying fat.
Hyperplasic Obesity: this happens in the stage of formation of the adipose tissue. It is characterized by an increased number of fat cells, although they are normal in size. It was considered responsible for infantile and adolescent obesity and a worse prognosis than hypertrophic obesity.
Classification According To Nutritional State
This depends on the BMI. According to the Spanish consensus in the SEEDO 2000, the classification of medium weight is distributed in the following manner:
Anatomic Classification
This classification came about during the late 1940's. It is based in the different distributions of fat. To make this determination, the following distinguishing characteristics are used to determine the distribution of fat:
- Android distribution, central, visceral or abdominal (apple shaped): excess fat is localized overall in the face, thorax and abdomen.
- Gynecoid or peripheral distribution (pear shaped): Fat accumulates mainly in the hips and thighs.
- Homogeneous or generalized distribution: Fat is distributed in a general form.
According to this base, but following strict criteria and the relationship with the greatest incidence of illnesses associated with obesity, the SEEDO uses the WHR for the classification of obesity into three types according to the distribution of fat. The subdivision of subcutaneous and visceral obesity requires techniques like the CAT and NMR.