Obesity is the accumulation of excessive amounts of body fat, which increases the risk of conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Obesity Is Extremely Common

More than 40% of adults are considered obese. In Texas, the obesity rate is nearly 36%.

Long-Term Effects
Being overweight or obese can seriously impact your health. It directly contributes to conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and some certain forms of cancer (including endometrial, breast, and colon). All of these conditions can greatly affect quality of life and also often lead to disability and early death.

Causes

Eating and drinking more calories than you burn is the biggest cause of obesity. But there are other factors that can contribute to it, such as these:

Genetics

Your family history can affect your risk of obesity. Some genes can change how your body controls hunger, uses energy, and stores fat. This might make you more likely to overeat or burn calories more slowly.

Lack of Exercise

If you sit for long periods of time and don’t get enough exercise, you may gain weight. Physical activity helps burn calories and boosts metabolism. Without regular exercise, your body is more likely to store excess calories as fat.

Psychological Factors

Stress, depression, and anxiety can cause some people to turn to food for comfort, leading to overeating.

Medical Conditions & Medications

Some health problems, like hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and sleep apnea, can make it harder to lose weight or may contribute to weight gain. Plus, certain medications like antidepressants and steroids can increase your appetite or affect your metabolism.

symptoms

Excess body fat is the main sign of obesity, but others include:

Sleep Apnea & Breathing Problems

Excess weight puts added strain on your lungs and heart.

Joint Pain

Extra weight puts pressure on your joints.

Exhaustion

Carrying extra weight causes your heart and muscles to have to work harder to move. Plus, obesity is linked to inflammation, which can make you feel tired.

DiagnosIs

Obesity is measured and diagnosed with a tool called Body Mass Index.

Body mass index (BMI) compares your weight with your height using a BMI calculator.

What your BMI means:

Less than 18.5: Underweight
18.5–24.9: Normal Weight
25–29.9: Overweight
30–39.9: Obese
40 or higher: Severely Obese

Your BMI is a helpful tool for measuring your obesity risk. However, it doesn’t look at the whole picture. For example, an athlete may have a lot of muscle, little fat, and a high weight—and therefore a high BMI. That does not mean they’re unhealthy. On the other hand, someone with the same BMI might have too much fat and not enough muscle.

For this reason, your primary care provider may also look other things to get a more complete overview of your health:

Body fat percentage
Waist-to-hip ratio
Waist size

Treatment

If you’re overweight or obese, your health care provider will work with you to develop a plan that tackles weight loss from several different angles.

Dietary Changes

One of the most important steps is making healthier food choices, reducing your calories, and focusing on a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. You don’t have to give up all the foods you enjoy. You just have to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

Exercise

Getting regular physical activity is important for losing weight. Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity, such as brisk walking, each week. That’s only a 30-minute walk, five days a week. Exercise helps to burn calories, strengthen muscles, and boost your metabolism so you burn more calories at rest.

Behavioral Therapy

Emotional and stress eating can be a big part of the picture. Therapy may help you address the emotional triggers that cause overeating. Plus, cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you to change negative thought patterns around food and body image. This makes it easier to stay on track.

Medications

If you've tried lifestyle changes without success, weight loss medications may be a good option for you. These medications work by reducing your appetite or blocking the absorption of fat. Medications like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy mimic hormones that control appetite, so you eat less.

Bariatric Surgery

For people with severe obesity or those who haven’t been successful with other treatments, bariatric surgery may be an option. Procedures like gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery reduce the size of your stomach, making it easier to manage portion sizes and lose weight.

How We Can Help

If you’re struggling with obesity, talk to your health care provider. During your appointment, your provider will listen to your concerns, review your symptoms, and look for factors that might be contributing to your weight gain. You may also be referred to a nutritionist or bariatric specialist. In this case, the team of providers will partner to coordinate your care.

Looking for a provider?

Find one here or call us at
866-325-0301