Obesity is a disease that causes patients to have an excessive amount of body fat. This condition can increase the risk of other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. Patients who are obese often struggle to lose weight and might have been considered to be overweight for most of their life, even as children.
The common symptoms of this condition are:
Obesity is often linked with other serious health concerns. Many patients who are obese also have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, or could have asthma. Sleep apnoea is another common comorbidity related to obesity, as are liver and kidney health problems.
In the most general terms, obesity is caused by taking in more calories than you are burning through exercise every day. Diet, genetics, and other health issues can be linked with obesity and can be the reason that a patient has become obese. Lifestyle can also contribute, and people who have sedentary jobs or children who do not play sports in school or who are not encouraged to be active are more likely to be obese.
The common risk factors for obesity are:
A patient’s BMI, or Body Mass Index, is used to diagnose obesity. Those who have a BMI that is in excess of 30 are considered to be obese. These are some problems with the BMI chart because these calculations do not measure body fat specifically. Some muscular athletes can also measure in the obesity range due to their muscle mass. Waist measurements are often also used to diagnose someone with obesity since this helps define the condition correctly.
A patient’s overall health and any negative symptoms that they are experiencing, as well as their reports about how they are feeling are all used to diagnose obesity as well. A general physical exam can help identify comorbidities that might be contributing to obesity and can also help identify the potential need for mental health support in these patients.
The main goal of the treatment for obesity is to help patients achieve a healthy weight. This will improve their overall health and well-being and help prevent the development of complications. There might need to be a team of healthcare professionals involved in these cases from a dietician to a behavioural counsellor, to specialists who help manage underlying disease processes that are contributing to a patient’s obesity.
The treatment goal in the beginning is usually to reduce a patient’s weight by about 5-10%. The more weight that patients lose, the better they will feel. Changes to diet and physical activity will be recommended to meet these goals. There are weight-loss medications that might be prescribed to help patients to meet these treatment goals as well. These do not work for everyone, but in some patients, they are very helpful. Weight-loss surgery is recommended in some patients as well.
Prevention of obesity requires eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. You will also need to reach out to your doctor and seek support if you are struggling to lose weight despite eating a good diet and working out. Getting treatment for underlying medical conditions is often required to prevent obesity.