The Dangers of Obesity

Obesity isn’t something that occurs because of a lack of willpower or laziness. It’s a complex chronic disease that changes the physiological functions of the body. Obesity is also a risk factor for other serious health problems, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea.

At Weston Medical Health & Wellness in Weston, Florida, we understand the dangers of obesity. We also know that obesity is a chronic disease, requiring ongoing medical interventions, management, and monitoring. Our medical weight-loss expert, Dr. Andrea Bretal, customizes obesity treatment plans, helping our patients reach a healthy weight that improves their physical, emotional, and social well-being.

In this month’s blog, we want to talk about obesity, how it affects the body, and the related health risks.

What is obesity?

Obesity is an excess amount of body fat that affects health. We use body mass index (BMI) to diagnose obesity. BMI is a calculation that compares your weight to your height, estimating body fat. BMI doesn’t measure body fat directly, but it’s a tool that helps identify people with excess amounts of fat.

A person with a BMI of 30 or higher has obesity, and a person with a BMI of 40 or higher has extreme obesity.

There’s no single cause of obesity, and many factors affect your weight and your ability to reach a healthy weight. Though eating patterns and physical activity have a significant influence over your weight, so do your sleep habits, genetics, sex, and age.

Obesity and the body

Excess fat affects many parts of the body. The excess body weight places more stress and strain on the joints, accelerating the degenerative changes. Obesity also increases the heart’s workload because it has to pump harder to circulate blood throughout the body.

Obesity also affects your body’s physiology. The excess fat triggers the release of hormones that cause an inflammatory response and chronic inflammation that alters insulin function — the hormone that assists in transporting glucose from the blood into the cells to supply energy.

People with obesity also have higher than normal triglycerides and cholesterol levels because of changes in lipid metabolism.

The physical and physiological changes that occur with obesity are dangerous to your health.

Dangers of obesity

Obesity doesn’t mean you’re going to develop other health problems, but it certainly puts you at risk. Some of the health dangers of obesity include:

Heart disease (heart attack and stroke)
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Fatty liver disease
Kidney disease
Sleep apnea

Obesity also causes obesity hypoventilation syndrome, a condition that causes too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen in the blood. Without treatment, obesity hypoventilation syndrome can lead to life-threatening symptoms.

Obesity is a chronic disease, but one you can successfully manage when you have the right support. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, weight-loss medication, or weight-loss surgery. Even losing a small amount of weight reduces the dangers that come with excess body fat.

If you’re struggling to reach a healthy weight, it’s time to reach out for expert help. Call our office today at 954-466-9679 or request an appointment online to schedule a consultation with our weight-loss specialist.