Obesity/Weight Gain

Obesity is a complex disease characterized by an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic issue. There is a medical problem that increases your risk of developing other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.

Several factors contribute to some people’s inability to lose weight. An individual’s risk for obesity is often determined by genetics, physiological factors, and environmental factors, as well as how he or she eats, moves, and exercises.

The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. Changing your diet, increasing your physical activity, and changing your behavior can help you lose weight. Additionally, prescription medications and weight-loss procedures are available to treat obesity.
Body mass index (BMI) is often used to diagnose obesity.

The root cause of obesity is not one specific thing, but a combination of several factors. The leading causes of obesity are lack of exercise, excessive calorie intake, genetics, emotional stressors, and sedentary lifestyles

Additionally, certain health conditions can cause weight gain, which can lead to obesity. These include:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes an imbalance of female reproductive hormones

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain thyroid hormones

• Osteoarthritis (OA) and other conditions that cause pain that may lead to reduced activity.

• Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare condition present at birth that causes excessive hunger

• Cushing syndrome is a condition caused by having high cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in your system

The most common causes of obesity include:

• Genes can affect how your body breaks down food into energy and how fat is stored.

• Age can lead to a loss of muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight.

• Insufficient sleep can cause hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and crave certain high-calorie foods.

• Pregnancy may cause weight gain that is difficult to lose and may ultimately lead to obesity.

Obesity can be diagnosed with a variety of lab tests. You will most likely need to have a physical examination by a doctor or have a blood test done. It may be necessary for you to take some steps before the test so that you are prepared for the results.
Some of these tests for obesity are:

• Fasting lipid tests
• Liver function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• PCOD Profile
• Blood Glucose Testing

The health consequences of obesity are significant. Obesity is a chronic and complex disease. The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and maintain a healthy weight. In turn, this improves overall health and reduces the risk of obesity-related complications.
You may need to work with a team of health professionals – such as a dietitian, behavioral counselor, or obesity specialist – to help you understand and change your eating and activity habits.

Medications

Anti-obesity drugs are drugs used to treat obesity. They work by decreasing appetite, increasing the rate at which one burns calories, or decreasing how much food one absorbs.
The following drugs are prescribed for obesity:

• Orlistat (Xenical)
• Lorcaserin
• Rimonabant
• Phentermine

To reduce weight gain or improve weight loss, these drugs are commonly used in combination with behavioral therapy and other lifestyle changes. There is an issue with these drugs in that they can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth, etc.

Bariatric surgery

Known collectively as bariatric surgery, gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries alter your digestive system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is recommended if diet and exercise have not worked or your weight is causing serious health problems. The purpose of bariatric surgery is to help you lose excess weight and reduce your risk of potentially life-threatening health problems related to your weight, including:

• Heart disease and stroke
• High blood pressure
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes

In general, bariatric surgery could be an option for you if:

• The BMI of your body is 40 or higher (extreme obesity).
• In addition to having a BMI of 35 to 39.9 (obesity), you have serious weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea.