Obesity & Treatment

What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excess amount of body fat. Obesity can lead to a host of medical risks including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and some cancers. Combined with obesity, these diseases may lead people to have a lower quality of health. In some cases, these can lead to disability or early death.

Obesity is considered a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. Acting upon a genetic background are a number of hormonal, metabolic, psychological, cultural and behavioral factors that promote fat accumulation and weight gain.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.), along with National and International medical and scientific societies, now recognize obesity as a chronic progressive disease resulting from multiple environmental and genetic factors.

Obesity is often measured by your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is determined by dividing your weight by your height. An adult with a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. Calculate your BMI

What Causes Obesity?
There are many causes that directly and indirectly contribute to obesity. Behavior, environment and genetics are among the main contributors to obesity. 

What are the Treatments?
It is important to realize that obesity is a chronic condition much like diabetes and high blood pressure. Therefore, there are no quick fix treatment strategies. It is important that you work with your doctor(s) and to discuss the right treatment plan for you. Treatment strategies for treating obesity include:


Reference:

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
CDC
Cleveland Clinic
Let’s Move
Mayo Clinic
Obesity Action Coalition
Obesity Medicine Association 
The Obesity Society
The State of Obesity