One of the most prevalent health conditions in the United States today is obesity. Both children and adults are often classified as being obese and this can have very serious health consequences. There are numerous reasons that a person may be obese. While lack of exercise and poor eating habits are more commonly given as reasons for being obese, genetics and socio-economic factors may also be involved. Typically obesity is related to consuming more calories every day than are being expended.
\nObesity is defined as a condition where a person has excess body fat. One of the ways that obesity is measured is by taking a person\u2019s body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by their body weight in kilograms and dividing it by their height in meters squared. If the result is 30 or greater, that person is considered to be obese.
\nBeing obese can have very serious effects on a person\u2019s overall health. Some of the health conditions associated with obesity are:
\n\u2022\u00a0Diabetes
\n\u2022\u00a0Hypertension
\n\u2022\u00a0High Cholesterol
\n\u2022\u00a0Stroke
\n\u2022\u00a0Osteoarthritis
\n\u2022\u00a0Respiratory difficulty
\n\u2022\u00a0Sleep apnea
\n\u2022\u00a0Heart disease
\nThere are a few ways that a person can prevent themselves from becoming obese.\u00a0 Since poor eating habits and behavior may be the cause of the problem, modifying these factors will be helpful. A conservative approach to treating obesity involves:
\n\u2022\u00a0Change eating habits
\n\u2022\u00a0Improve and increase physical activity
\n\u2022\u00a0consult with your physician for recommendations
\n\u2022\u00a0consult with a certified dietician
\nThere are also different types of weight loss surgeries, known as bariatric surgery that can be performed.\u00a0 They are Gastric Bypass, that shrinks the stomach capacity into a small pouch so it won\u2019t hold a lot of food and the Adjustable Gastric Band surgery which limits the amount of food that enters the stomach. If you would like to discuss surgical options for treating obesity with a physician at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-206-5486.<\/p>\n
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.<\/strong> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the most prevalent health conditions in the United States today is obesity. Both children and adults are often classified as being obese and this can have very serious health consequences. There are numerous reasons that a person may … Continue reading