Obesity

Obesity is a chronic condition in which you carry excess body weight based on your height. Obesity affects your disease risk factors. For example, it increases the risk of heart disease, vascular diseases, diabetes, and arthritis. 

People who are overweight have body mass indexes (BMIs) of 25 to 29.9. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater. Using a BMI calculator determines your BMI and chronic disease risk factors.

What are the risk factors for obesity?

Obesity risk factors include:

• Family history of obesity
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Mental health conditions
• Insufficient sleep

The exact cause of obesity isn’t always clear, as genetic and environmental factors appear to both play roles in its development. 

Which conditions does obesity increase the risk of?

Being obese increases your risk of the following conditions and more:

• High blood pressure
• High triglycerides
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Insulin resistance
• Diabetes
• Joint pain
• Hormone imbalances
• Arthritis 
• Asthma
• Varicose veins
• Spider veins
• Vascular diseases

If you’re overweight or obese, losing just 5-10% of your initial body weight lessens the risk of heart disease and other obesity-related conditions.

How are obesity-related conditions diagnosed?

The Lorven Heart and Vascular Institute, LLC, experts weigh you and determine your BMI to establish if you’re normal weight, overweight, or obese. They also discuss your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle, medications, and health goals.

Lorven Heart and Vascular Institute, LLC, may suggest lab testing, heart function tests like nuclear stress testing, Holter monitoring, echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKGs), or other diagnostic procedures. 

How is obesity treated?

Treating obesity or heart and vein diseases linked to excess body weight may consist of:

• Nutrition counseling
• Custom heart-healthy diet and exercise plans
• Lifestyle education 
• Medications
• Medically supervised weight loss
• Dietary supplements
• Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy
• Interventional cardiology
• Vein care
• Telemetry monitoring 
• Chronic care management

It’s important to lose weight if you’re overweight to lessen the risk of heart and blood vessel concerns. Adopt a nutritious diet rich in fiber-rich foods, eat plenty of lean protein foods and heart-healthy fats, minimize stress, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. You should also avoid smoking.

See the experts at Lorven Heart and Vascular Institute, LLC, for routine medical evaluations if you’re obese, develop unusual symptoms, or have been diagnosed with an obesity-related chronic disease.

Schedule an appointment at Lorven Heart and Vascular Institute, LLC, by calling the office or requesting a visit online today.