What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having excess body fat that increases the risk of other health problems. A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is generally considered obese.
Some key points about obesity:
- It's a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat that negatively impacts health.
- Obesity increases the chances of developing other issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, and even some cancers.
- Both genetic and environmental factors like diet and physical activity play a role in obesity.
So what causes someone to become obese? There are a few main factors:
- Overeating - Consuming too many calories from foods high in sugar and fat coupled with low activity levels leads to weight gain over time.
- Lifestyle habits - Sedentary behaviors like sitting for long periods, not exercising, smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and getting inadequate sleep.
- Genetics - Some people are predisposed to gaining weight more easily.
How do you know if you are obese based on BMI?
- A BMI under 18.5 is underweight
- BMI between 18.5-24.9 is normal weight
- BMI between 25-29.9 is overweight
- BMI over 30 is obese
What are some health risks linked to obesity?
Having excess body fat raises the odds of developing the following conditions:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Fatty liver disease
- Gallstones
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
Luckily, obesity can often be prevented through lifestyle changes like:
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Managing stress
At Vitality Renewal Clinic(), our physicians specialize in customized weight loss programs involving nutrition planning, fitness guidance and bioidentical hormone therapy to help patients achieve long-term results. Contact us today for a consultation! We're here to help you on your health journey.
I hope this summary on obesity - what it is, common causes, associated health risks and prevention - was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.