Obesity - Balanced Hormones Center

What is obesity?

Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of other health issues. The most common way 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 increases the likelihood of various diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.
• Obesity often results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, including both behavioral and genetic. Common causes include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, excessive calorie intake, genetics, family lifestyle, medical problems, certain medications, sleep disorders, and more.
• Losing weight and keeping it off requires commitment and lifestyle changes. Effective long-term weight loss often involves decreased calorie intake, increased physical activity, and behavior changes. Getting support and making sustainable lifestyle changes is key.

What are the health risks associated with obesity?

Obesity increases one's risk for developing the following serious health issues:

• Heart disease and strokes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Certain types of cancer
• Gallstones and liver problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Breathing problems like sleep apnea

Luckily, even modest weight loss (like 5-10% of body weight) can improve health and lower disease risk. "Losing just 5–10 percent of your body weight can have amazing health benefits, like lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels," says Dr. Balanced Hormones Center of Balanced Hormones Center Weight Loss Clinic](increasetestosterone.co). Their individualized medical weight loss programs have helped hundreds reach their goals.

So in summary, obesity is an excessive amount of body fat that harms health. It has many risk factors and often results from a combination of behavioral, environmental and genetic factors. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, but even modest weight loss can reduce health risks. Reach out to a medical provider for help getting started on the path towards better health.