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Obesity

General Information

Imagine a life without obesity

Obesity, the condition of being overweight, is a common disease that affects both children and adults. In the United States, 35 percent of men and 40 percent of women are obese. Doctors use your body mass index (BMI), a ratio of your weight to height, to determine if you are obese. Carrying excessive weight for your height can lead to a variety of complications including heart disease, high blood pressure and general dissatisfaction with your life.

Preventing obesity begins with making healthy choices. We know that sometimes diet and exercise alone isn't enough. That’s why our doctors at Goshen Physicians work with you to help you achieve your weight loss goals. 

Causes

Taking in more calories than you burn leads to an energy imbalance, causing you to put on too much weight. People with obesity including children, are often physically inactive and don't consume a healthy, balanced diet. This combination of inactivity and a high-calorie diet is what ultimately leads to obesity and morbid obesity.

Some medical conditions and certain medications can cause obesity, including:

  • Antidepressants, antipsychotic and anti-seizure drugs
  • Genetic syndromes, including Prader-Willi syndrome
  • Endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and Cushing's syndrome

Signs Of Obesity

Do you know the signs of obesity?

Excessive body weight is the main sign of obesity. Although the disease including morbid obesity doesn’t have any other specific signs or symptoms, obesity can lead to complications that bring on their own sets of symptoms. Heart and vascular conditions, diabetes and high blood pressure are just a few conditions caused by obesity.

Diagnosing signs of obesity 

Visible excessive weight due to an increase in fat cells is the main sign of obesity. To diagnose obesity, your doctor will consider your body mass index (BMI), your weight-to-height ratio, and your waist circumference.

BMI

BMI is the primary measurement for diagnosing obesity. A BMI of 30 kilograms per square meters indicates obesity. Carrying too much weight for your height can put you at risk for serious illnesses including cancer and heart disease.

Waist circumference

For women, a waist circumference of more than 35 inches indicates being overweight. In men, having a waist circumference of more than 40 inches signals an unhealthy weight.

Diagnosing obesity is straightforward. However, your doctor will perform a physical exam and other diagnostic tests to understand what’s causing your excessive weight. Having a complete snapshot of your health helps us create a personalized weight loss plan that works just for you.

Adult Obesity

Fighting adult obesity one pound at a time

In the United States, more than one third of all adults are obese. We know that maintaining a healthy diet and losing weight naturally can be a challenge. Our team works together to help reduce adult obesity.

Causes of obesity in adults

Obesity often affects adults who don't have healthy, balanced diets and lead sedentary lives. This combination of consuming substantially more calories than you burn causes an energy imbalance, resulting in obesity.

Sometimes, medications for mental health and neurological conditions can also cause increased weight gain. 

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