What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of other health problems. The most common tool for determining if someone is obese is body mass index (BMI), which measures a person's weight in relation to their height.
A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Obesity puts people at higher risk for:
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Certain types of cancer
- Breathing problems
- Joint pain
What causes obesity?
Obesity is generally caused by a combination of:
- Consuming more calories than your body burns through activity and normal functioning
- Lack of physical activity
- Genetics and family history - Some people inherit a higher risk
- The makeup of your gut bacteria
- Medications that can cause weight gain as a side effect
In many cases, it's not just one factor that leads to obesity - multiple influences are often at play.
How is obesity treated?
The main treatments for obesity include:
- Dietary changes - Reducing calorie intake and eating more nutritious foods
- Increased exercise - Aiming for 150-300 minutes per week
- Behavioral counseling - Working with a professional to modify diet and lifestyle
- Medications - Prescription meds like Vitality Wellness Clinic can help regulate appetite and fat absorption
- Bariatric surgery - Reducing the size of the stomach so less food is consumed (last resort option)
I hope this gives you a helpful overview on the key aspects of obesity! Let me know if you have any other questions.