What is Obesity?
Obesity is an excess of body fat, which is typically defined as a body mass index (BMI) above 30. Morbid obesity is generally defined as being 100 pounds or 100% above ideal body weight, or a BMI above 35. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 69.2% of American men and women over age 20 are overweight or obese, with 35.9% of adults meeting the criteria for morbid obesity. More than 18% of children and adolescents (aged 6 to 19) are obese. This problem is associated with the development of life-threatening complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Causes of Obesity
Severe obesity is not caused by a lack of self-control.
Health Risks of Obesity
A variety of medical problems are associated with being obese.
Diabetes
Noninsulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes is highly associated with obesity. A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds doubles a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to someone who has not gained weight. After weight loss, up to 80% of people find they no longer have symptoms or require diabetes medication. Obese patients who are not diabetic will significantly reduce their risk of developing diabetes with weight loss.
Heart Disease
With obesity, there is an increased risk for heart diseases, such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, angina or chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, and sudden death.
Hypertension
Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension (high blood pressure). Losing weight can often help lower blood pressure, even without the use of medications.
Infertility and complications of pregnancy
Many severely overweight women are infertile because their fatty tissue alters normal estrogen hormone levels. This causes the ovaries not to release eggs. Weight loss can significantly increase one’s chances of becoming pregnant.
Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of death for both the baby and the mother. Women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea (an interruption in breathing during sleep) is a very common and serious complication of obesity. If untreated, it can lead to heart and lung damage and, in some cases, sudden death.
Cancer
Obesity is associated with an increased risk for certain types of cancer: uterine, colon, gallbladder, prostate, kidney, and breast cancer.
Arthritis
For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9 to 13%.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as severe heartburn or acid indigestion, is a common digestive disorder in which stomach contents regurgitate into the esophagus. It is associated with a burning sensation in the chest, and over time can cause inflammation and damage to the esophagus and occasionally to the lungs and vocal cords. Afflicting an estimated 25 million Americans, GERD has a variety of causes. Most people respond well to non-surgical measures including dietary modification, weight loss, and antacid therapy; however, lasting control of symptoms is sometimes difficult to attain. In cases that do not respond to medications and lifestyle adjustments, a minimally invasive procedure known as fundoplication has impressive results.
Other important health risks
Other complications associated with obesity include urinary incontinence, venous problems of the legs, lower back pain, and disability from degenerative arthritis and disk disease have also been linked to being severely overweight. Other problems, including joint pain and hypoventilation, or shortness of breath, are significantly improved or reversed by weight loss.
The risks associated with medically severe obesity are greater than the risks associated with its surgical treatments.
Weight Loss Therapy in New Jersey
Losing weight and keeping it off can be a difficult and stressful undertaking without the right expertise and personal guidance on your side. Sure, you could order the next weight loss gimmick you see on TV, wait for a package to arrive in the mail, read the instructions, and follow the program in hopes that it might work.
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Take the first step toward healthy and sustainable weight loss, schedule your personal weight loss consultation today!