WOMEN'S SERVICES
The terms "overweight" and "obesity" refer to body weight that is greater than what is considered normal for a certain height. Obesity is generally due to extra body fat. However, it may also be due to extra muscle, bone, or water. People who are obese usually have too much body fat.
Body mass index (BMI) is one way to tell if you are at a healthy weight, overweight, or are obese. The BMI is based on the ratio of your weight in relation to your height. The greater your BMI, the greater your risk of health problems from obesity.
Causes
A number offactors may cause weight gain and affect how much weight your body stores. When you take in more calories from eating and drinking than you use up from physical activity and through daily living, such as sitting or sleeping, your body stores that extra calories. Over time, if you continue to consume more calories than you burn off, you most likely gain weight. Excessive weight gain may lead to overweight or obesity.
Most Common Problems of Obesity
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death
Diabetes Type 2
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and getting regular physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Heart Disease
Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may lower your risk factors for developing heart disease. Weight loss may improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood flow.
Stroke
High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you do not breathe regularly while sleeping. You may stop breathing altogether for short periods of time. Losing weight helps cure this condition.
Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver diseases are conditions in which fat builds up in your liver. This condition may lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.
Gallbladder Diseases
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol.
Kidney Disease
In this condition kidneys are damaged and can't filter blood like they should. Obesity raises the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, the most common causes of kidney disease. Even if you don't have diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity itself may promote kidney disease and quicken its progress.
Doctor's Help
You should seek a doctor's help if you are gaining weight quickly and have a large waist size, orhave a BMI of 30 or greater.
Weight Loss Programs
Changing your eating habits is central to losing and maintaining your weight. To lose weight, you have to eat fewer calories and use more calories than you take in.
Follow a healthy eating plan
Emerging research shows that sticking with an eating plan may be more important to losing and maintaining weight than the type of eating plan you follow.
Regular Physical Activity
Your doctor can review with you the types and amounts of physical activity that might suit your lifestyle, interests, and skills.
Common Treatment Programs
Common treatments for overweight and obesity include losing weight through weight loss and weight management programs.
But some people who have obesity are unable to lose enough weight to improve their health or are unable to keep from regaining weight. In such cases, a doctor may consider adding other treatments, including weight-loss medicines, weight-loss devices, or bariatric surgery.
Weight Loss Medicines
You may see ads for herbal remedies and dietary supplements. But many of these claims are not true. Some of these supplements can even have serious side effects. Talk with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter herbal remedies or dietary supplements for the purpose of trying to lose weight.
Weight-loss devices
Weight-loss devices have only recently been approved, researchers do not have long-term data on their safety and effectiveness. Weight-loss devices include:
Electrical stimulation system. The electrical stimulation system uses a device a surgeon places in your abdomen with laparoscopic surgery NIH external link. The device blocks nerve activity between your stomach and brain.
How to naturally lose weight fast
Methods of weight loss that scientific research supports include the following:
1. Trying intermittent fasting
2. Tracking your diet and exercise
3. Eating mindfully
4. Eating protein for breakfast
5. Cutting back on sugar and refined carbohydrates
6. Eating plenty of fiber
7. Balancing gut bacteria
8. Getting a good night's sleep
9. Managing your stress levels