
Obesity is a health condition that occurs due to an excessive amount of body fat. Many people consider it only as a cosmetic issue, rather it is a medical condition and should be treated accordingly as obesity increases the risk of many other health issues, for example, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Obesity may be the result of inheritance, physiological and environmental factors. Pregnancy can also cause obesity as weight gained during pregnancy can be difficult to shed and eventually lead to obesity. The condition happens when you take more calories, more often through fast food and high-calorie beverages, than what you burn during your normal daily routine. Certain medical conditions such as binge eating disorder (BED) and Cushing’s disease can also result in weight gain and obesity.
Understanding BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used to diagnose obesity. BMI is used to determine whether you are obese or not. It is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height and age. Weight in kilograms divided by squared height in meters is the formula for body mass index (BMI). Alternatively, it can also be calculated by multiplying weight in pounds by 703, divided by height in inches, and diving the result again by height in inches.
This is what your BMI indicates about you.
- BMI below 18.5 = Underweight
- BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 = Normal
- BMI between 25.0 to 29.9 = Overweight
- BMI of 30 to 39.9 = Obesity
- BMI of over 40 = Severely Obese
Some people use the terms overweight and obesity interchangeably, but both terms have different meanings. People with BMI of 25.0 – 29.9 are considered overweight, while those having BMI over 30 are regarded as obese.
Weight-related health problems are more common in women with a waist measurement of over 35 inches or 89 centimeters, and in men with a weight circumference of over 40 inches or 102 centimeters. That’s why, physicians working on your obesity treatment would measure the circumference of your waist to help guide their treatment decisions.
Lifestyle changes to overcome obesity
Obesity can occur at any age, but as you age, hormonal changes and less physical activities increase your risk of obesity. Lifestyle changes, such as leading a more active lifestyle, and avoiding high calorie and high-fat diets can help in reducing the impact of obesity on you. Weight loss or bariatric surgery is indicated as an effective way to overcome obesity of lifestyle changes and exercises do not show good results.
Symptoms of obesity
Obesity shortens your life, and also accelerates your risk of hypertension or high blood pressure, heart diseases, high cholesterol, diabetes and low quality of life. Obese persons may experience other symptoms such as:
- Trouble sleeping
- Irregular breathing or sleep apnea
- Skin problems
- Osteoarthritis in knees
- Shortness of breath
- Varicose veins
The treatment for obesity primarily involves dietary modifications to consume more fiber-rich and protein-rich meals. Your caregiver may also suggest at least one hour of intense exercise everyday. A calorie-restricted diet and medicine may be the weight loss tools your doctor recommends.
In some cases, surgery may be indicated when other weight management options have not been successful. Following individuals may require weight-loss surgery
- Those having a BMI or over 40.
- The individuals having more than 100 lbs. over their ideal body weight.
- The persons with a BMI of 35 along with obesity-related disorders such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- The individual experiences disabling pain in weight-bearing joints.
Surgery for obesity treatment
There are many bariatric surgeries available to you such as gastric surgery, gastric bypass surgery, stomach stapling, laparoscopic band surgery, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. You should work with your healthcare provider for the best treatment to achieve your weightloss and obesity goals. If you have health insurance, it will certainly help you with offloading some of the costs of your treatment along with your loss. If you have no health insurance or want to know which health insurance would be the best option for you, PrudentRx is a rich source of all health insurance-related information. PrudentRx Program, PrudentRx FAQs and PrudentRx drug list would be helpful in providing you with more details.