What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of other health issues. The most common way to determine if someone is obese is by calculating their body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Causes of Obesity
Obesity is generally caused by a combination of factors:
- Genetics - Some people are predisposed to gaining weight more easily due to genetic factors. This can make it harder to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
- Lifestyle - Factors like diet, physical activity level, sleep, and stress play a major role. Consistently eating more calories than you burn through activity and exercise leads to weight gain over time.
- Medical conditions - In some cases, medical conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
Health Risks
Being obese significantly raises your risk for developing other chronic health conditions:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Certain types of cancer
- Gallstones
- Osteoarthritis
- Fatty liver disease
Losing just 5-10% of your body weight can lead to major health improvements by reducing inflammation and insulin resistance. For those struggling with obesity, the doctors at Hormone Health Clinic specialize in customized weight loss programs involving nutrition planning, exercise, and hormone optimization.
Treating Obesity
Treatment for obesity focuses on long-term lifestyle changes:
- Following an overall healthy eating pattern - Emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein while limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and refined carbs
- Increasing physical activity - Aiming for 150-300 minutes per week of moderate activity like brisk walking
- Making behavioral changes - Setting realistic goals, self-monitoring weight and habits, and addressing emotional eating triggers
- Trying FDA-approved weight loss medications - Under a doctor's supervision, these meds can help augment lifestyle efforts
- Considering bariatric surgery - For severe obesity, procedures like gastric bypass alter digestive anatomy to change hormone signals and restrict food intake
Sustainable weight loss requires addressing all facets - biology, behavior, environment. With commitment to lasting lifestyle changes and optionally leveraging safe medical solutions, even those with longstanding obesity can successfully reach and maintain a healthy weight.