Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of other health issues. The most common method to determine if someone is obese is by calculating their body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Some key things to know about obesity:
- It's a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat that harms health. Obesity is a chronic disease that is difficult to treat and manage.
- It increases the risk of other serious health conditions, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, gout, and breathing issues like sleep apnea.
- Obesity typically develops from a combination of causes, such as genetic factors, lifestyle behaviors, environment, health conditions, and socioeconomic factors. Key contributors are poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, excessive calorie intake, inadequate sleep, stress, medical problems, medications, social factors, or genetic predisposition.
- Losing even a modest amount of weight can produce health benefits. A weight loss of just 5–10% of initial body weight can improve blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars. More significant weight loss can further improve health and reduce obesity-related diseases.
- Treatment focuses on long-term lifestyle changes related to healthier eating, exercise, behavior change, and sometimes medications or surgery. Having support from professionals and family greatly improves success. Relapses are common, so weight management must be continued lifelong.
The key to preventing and treating obesity is adopting long-term lifestyle changes instead of short-term dieting. Building healthy habits around nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress resilience provides lifelong tools for maintaining a healthy weight and reducing disease risks. Small consistent changes to your behaviors can make a big difference over time. Reach out to Restore Vitality Clinic if you need help getting started or have concerns about your weight.