Obesity Basics: What Is It? How Is It Treated?
There is an epidemic of obesity in this country, health experts say. But what is obesity? How is it measured? Find out the answers to these questions and others by taking this quiz. It's based on information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Gender words are used here to talk about health risk. Use this in a way that works best for you and your provider as you talk about your care.
1. Body mass index (BMI) is the current way of finding out
whether someone is overweight or has obesity. BMI is found with your height and weight.
Which BMI reading is considered obese?
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Body mass index is a
way to estimate body fat by using math. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. A
BMI
of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
2. What portion of body fat falls in the obese category?
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Women usually have
more body fat than men. Measuring body fat is hard to do. The most accurate way is
to
weigh a person underwater or with an X-ray test called a dual energy X-ray
absorptiometry (DEXA). The DEXA scan is expensive. And you should have it only so
many
times because it uses radiation. Simpler methods are much less accurate. They measure
the thickness of the layer of fat just under the skin. Or they send a harmless amount
of
electricity through the body. These methods are popular in health clubs.
3. How many American adults are considered obese?
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According to the
latest statistics from the CDC, more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults are obese. This means
they
have a BMI greater than 30. Everyone needs a certain amount of body fat. But extra
body
fat can put you at risk for health problems.
4. What causes obesity?
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Obesity occurs when a
person takes in more calories than they burn. How this happens differs from person
to
person. Genes, eating habits, physical activity, and mental health factors all play
a
part in obesity. Some nervous system conditions, endocrine problems, and certain
medicines can cause some weight gain. But usually they don't cause severe obesity.
5. Which of these serious health problems has been linked to
obesity?
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Obesity is also
linked to several kinds of cancer, including uterine (endometrial), breast (in
postmenopausal women), and colorectal. Other health problems linked to obesity include
osteoarthritis, gallstones, liver disease, gout, sleep apnea, and infertility.
6. If you have obesity, how much weight do you need to lose to
bring about positive health changes?
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A 5% to 10% weight
loss can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A 5% to 7% weight loss can prevent
type 2 diabetes in people who are at high risk for the disease. But any weight-loss
program should be for the long term. Obesity is a long-term (chronic) problem. Weight
control should be a lifelong effort.
7. What is a healthy weight loss goal?
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Your weight-loss
program should aim for a slow, steady loss. If you plan to lose more than 15 to 20
pounds, have any health problems, or take medicine regularly, discuss your plan with
your doctor before you begin. Your doctor can look at your general health, your need
to
lose weight, and any health conditions that you may have.
8. How much physical activity should you aim for each week to
help weight loss?
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Some experts say you
may need to work up to 60 minutes of medium-level activity on most days of the weeks
to
lose weight. You will need to continue this exercise level to maintain your weight
loss.
If you haven't been exercising regularly, check with your doctor before starting any
exercise program. You don't have to do 30 (or 60) minutes all at one time. You can
sneak
activity into your day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking and talking
with a friend at lunch, or taking 2 to 3 short walking breaks at work. You can also
walk
on a treadmill at home while watching TV. It's important to choose an activity you
enjoy
so you'll stick with it.
9. If your doctor advises weight-loss medicine, when can you
expect to lose the most weight?
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After the first
weight loss related to the medicine, a person's weight tends to level off or even
increase for the remainder of treatment. Most weight-loss medicines are for short-term
use only. These medicines are usually meant for people who have obesity, not for those
who are overweight or who want to lose a few pounds. Most of the medicines are available
only by prescription except for orlistat. This is a lipase inhibitor that is the first
FDA-approved nonprescription weight-loss medicine. The prescription form of orlistat
is
one medicine that may be used for a year, or as directed by your doctor. It blocks
the
absorption of about 30% of fats consumed. It may be prescribed for a person who is
overweight and also has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Talk with
your doctor about which medicine is best for you. Ask how long you should take the
medicine. Amphetamine-based medicines are not advised for weight loss because of the
risk of abuse or dependence. A person taking weight-loss medicine should also increase
physical activity and improve their diet to keep the weight loss for the long term.
10. Bariatric surgery may be advised for people with a BMI of
more than 40. What does the procedure do?
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This surgery may
also be advised for men who are more than 100 pounds overweight or for women who are
more than 80 pounds overweight. One of two types of procedures may be used. One type
is
called restrictive surgery. For this, parts of the stomach are closed off to make
it
smaller and restrict the amount of food that can be eaten at one sitting. Bariatric
operations include laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and vertical sleeve
gastrectomy. These types of restrictive surgery don't change the way food is digested.
The other type of surgery is malabsorptive surgery. This creates a new path for food.
It
bypasses most of the stomach, the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine),
and the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This surgery reduces
the
amount of nutrients the body can absorb from food. This surgery may also remove parts
of
the stomach and bypass the duodenum and jejunum. These procedures include the Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass and the duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion. One risk with
this type of surgery is nutritional deficiencies.
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