Obesity and Your Health
Over three-quarters of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. In addition to concerns about appearance that may exist, excess weight can have significant impacts on your health. Carrying around extra pounds can cause or worsen the following medical conditions:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- Sleep apnea
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux
- Arthritis
- Mental health issues
What should I do if my doctor tells me that I should lose weight?
If your doctor or other healthcare professional wants to talk about your weight, be assured it is from a medical concern for your health and not a judgement of your appearance. To lose pounds and maintain weight loss, most people require support. Having a care team of experts will improve your results. This team may include your doctor, a dietician to guide your food choices, a nurse, an exercise coach, and your pharmacist. Special care is necessary for children, older adults, and for pregnant women to manage weight. And if you are discouraged by the thought of trying to lose a lot of weight, know that experts have found that even weight loss of 5-10% of your current weight can significantly improve your health.
Is there a way to check if I am overweight and to what degree?
Your weight can be categorized by calculating your body mass index (BMI) based on your weight and your height. See the NIH Standard BMI Calculator to quickly find this number for you. Here are the categories to define weight based on your BMI.
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| <18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5–24.9 | Normal weight |
| 25–29.9 | Overweight |
| >30 | Obese |
Is BMI the only factor in diagnosing obesity?
No. Your health care provider can also measure your waist size. Other health factors that will contribute to a diagnosis of obesity is the effect of your current weight on organs and tissues of your body and how much it limits your mobility and daily activities. A diagnosis of pre-obesity may be determined when your health care provider notes that your health is at risk of being affected by your weight.
How did I get to be overweight and what can I do to change that?
Your care team will outline a plan for your weight loss that will include a healthy diet and physical activity and may also include weight loss medication. They will also address behavioral issues and other risk factors associated with obesity. Lack of sleep, stress, and taking certain medicines may also contribute to weight gain.
Summary
Regular check-ins with your care team are key to monitoring progress to achieving successful weight loss goals. Your team will also provide you with support to maintain your weight loss and health in the future.
Provided by ASHP.
Supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk.