Is Obesity a Disease? Here’s What You Need to Know

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair an individual’s health. It’s a disorder that increases the risk of other diseases and health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern but rather a serious medical problem.

Causes of Obesity

There are numerous reasons why people find it difficult to lose weight. Obesity generally results from an imbalance between diet and little physical activity combined with environmental and physiological factors. At times, it can also be caused by hereditary factors. Obesity typically occurs when you consume more calories and cannot burn them at the same speed. Changing lifestyle and diet habits is often the primary treatment for obesity.

Complications Resulting from Obesity

Obesity is a complicated matter for many people. It has been connected to several health problems, some of which can be life-threatening when left untreated. These conditions include:

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Certain Cancers
• Stroke
• Gall Bladder Disease
• Fatty Liver Disease
• High Cholesterol
• Sleep Apnea
• Arthritis
• Infertility
• Cardiovascular Disease

Obesity has an overwhelming prevalence, with 1 in 6 adults in the U.S suffering from it. It is now recognized and defined as a chronic disease by several organizations. Along with the diseases mentioned above, obesity can significantly affect one’s mental health.

Treatment Options for Obesity

Obesity can happen for a number of reasons. Nonetheless, there are ways to minimize the symptoms of obesity, such as:

• Dietary changes: The symptoms can be controlled by reducing the intake of processed, refined food and strictly avoiding any crash diet. Ensure that your body is safe while following any new dietary changes.
• Physical activity: Exercise has been found to help keep obesity in check. The results may take longer to be visible, but the method is one of the most effective. Avoid any strenuous activity at first, seeing that it can make the symptoms worse.
• Medications: In some cases, doctors prescribe weight loss medications or injections to help a person lose weight. However, they usually do this if dietary changes don’t work or when the person has other underlying medical conditions.
• Surgery: Bariatric surgery consists of gastric sleeves or gastric bands and gastric bypass surgery, which involves removing or changing a part of a person’s stomach or small intestine. Your doctor will determine if surgery is the right option for you.

If you are obese or overweight and struggling to lose weight, it is best to seek medical help as soon as possible. Not doing so can put you at risk for several diseases, and putting off weight loss can cause severe complications.

Are you experiencing symptoms of obesity, or are you overweight and looking for effective weight loss solutions? Contact us at MI Express Primary Care in Canton & Ann Arbor, MI to get your customized obesity and weight loss treatment. Your weight loss journey will be overseen by our medical director, Dr. Umayr Azimi, who is double board-certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine.