Understanding Overweight & Obesity: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity. You are considered overweight if your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, and obese if it greater than 30.
Obesity is a complex health issue resulting from a combination of causes and individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Behaviors can include physical activity, inactivity, dietary patterns, medication use, and other exposures.
Obesity is serious because it is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, all of which are leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Abnormalweight
- Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
- Overweight

Signs & symptoms

Obesity symtoms may include sleep apnoea, which causes insufficient restful sleep and daytime sleepiness, back and joint pains, fatigue, depression, shortness of breath, infertility and irregular periods in women, heartburn, gallbladder disease and liver problems such as fatty liver. overweight people are at more risk to develope certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart problems and COVID-19 complications.

Diagnosis

Obesity is diagnosed when body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply by 703. Or divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. BMI between 25-29.9 means a person is overweight.

What to do if you want to lose weight?
If you're considering embarking on a weight loss journey, it's important to approach this endeavor with compassion and understanding for yourself. Making changes for your well-being can be challenging, but each step you take is a positive choice towards a healthier you.
Losing weight involves finding a balance between consuming fewer calories and increasing physical activity. Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as walking, dancing, or swimming, can make this process more fulfilling. Even small movements while seated can contribute positively to your overall activity level.
Remember, you don't have to face this journey alone. Seeking guidance from your doctor can provide you with professional support. Connecting with a dietitian, joining weight loss groups, or working with a personal trainer are all valuable options to help you reach your goals.
While medications and surgeries are available to assist with weight loss, they are typically recommended for those who have faced significant challenges with weight management and have exhausted other approaches. These options should be considered thoughtfully.
It's important to remind yourself that progress is made one step at a time. You can start by making a single change and focus on maintaining it. As you continue, you can gradually incorporate more adjustments into your routine. Through this process, remember to hold onto hope and stay committed to the positive changes you're making.

Treatment

Approaches to treatment prioritize making sensitive and supportive lifestyle adjustments. The initial strategy involves cultivating positive changes in your daily routine. This encompasses dietary modifications, such as consuming fewer calories, making wiser choices like opting for plant-based foods, and moderating or avoiding items like sugary beverages. Physical activity is also crucial; the recommendation is to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
For individuals with a BMI greater than 30 or with severe obesity-related complications, certain medications like Orlistat, Phentermine, Bupropion, and Liraglutide might be suggested to assist in the process. In cases where previous methods have not yielded the desired results and the patient is dealing with extreme obesity (BMI exceeding 40 or 35 with serious health concerns), bariatric surgery could be considered. Various types of bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve procedures, are available, but it's essential to understand that even after surgery, a commitment to ongoing lifestyle adjustments remains integral. This comprehensive approach underscores the significance of your dedication to your well-being.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital