A good diet, regular exercise, and medicine can all aid in managing the chronic illness.
There are no evidence that the obesity pandemic in the United States, which is harming the health of tens of millions of Americans, is going away. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, around 15% of adults in the majority of U.S. states had obesity in 1990. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 18% of children and about 40% of adults countrywide were considered obese as of 2015–16.
These statistics were highlighted in a study titled “The State of Obesity 2018: Better Policies for a Healthier America,” which was published in 2018 by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to John Auerbach, president and CEO of Trust for America, “we are unlikely to see progress in combating obesity unless we pay attention to the social and economic conditions that have led to dramatic increases in its rates.” “We must support policies that change workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods in ways that make it simpler to eat a healthy diet and exercise.”
According to Dr. Garth Graham, a practicing cardiologist and president of the Aetna Foundation in Hartford, Connecticut, those who are obese or overweight risk major health problems. According to him, being obese and overweight is linked to a number of health issues, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer, stroke, hypertension, and reproductive dysfunction.
The Chronic Disease of Obesity
According to Angela Golden, vice president of the Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council, some people mistakenly believe that persons with obesity lack discipline and determination when it comes to their diet and exercise routines. However, it’s crucial to remember that obesity is a chronic disease. Golden has published many pieces regarding obesity in scholarly journals. According to her, obesity has distinct signs and symptoms like other chronic diseases and is linked to other illnesses and ailments. According to Golden, obesity is an illness that involves more than just behavior.
Diagnosis There is no laboratory test, such as a blood test, to identify obesity. According to Graham, a person is considered obese if their body mass index is 30 or greater. Your BMI is determined by your height and weight. According to the CDC’s adult BMI calculator, an adult male who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 174 pounds would have a BMI slightly over 27, and would be regarded as overweight.
According to Dr. Shailendra Patel, professor and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, the BMI assessment is universally acknowledged in the medical world. He works as a clinician at Cincinnati’s UC Health. The BMI scale is widely used and reasonably priced. Other methods of diagnosing obesity exist, but Patel notes that they are often not reimbursed by insurance, are not publicly accessible, and are mostly employed in research. For instance, an MRI or CT scan can evaluate the patient’s abdominal fat content, which is a sign of obesity. But according to him, the tests range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars, aren’t offered in all medical settings, and aren’t frequently covered by health insurance companies as a means of diagnosing obesity. Although it is not ideal, using a BMI to identify obesity is totally appropriate. This is true because some patients may have a BMI of 30 or greater without experiencing any of the accompanying health problems with obesity, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. On the other hand, some patients can have a BMI around 30, but have a lot of internal abdominal fat, which would indicate a more dangerous kind of obesity.
Symptoms
Obesity is associated with a number of health issues, including:
- Sleeping difficulties.
- Varicose veins.
- Joint Pain
- Shortness of breath.
Obesity Has Increased Significantly
Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a triple board-certified endocrinologist and the founder of New York Endocrinology in New York City, has witnessed a considerable increase in the proportion of patients with obesity since she began her medical career in 2010. About one in ten of her patients at the beginning of her medical career were obese, she said. Approximately one-third of the people she treats nowadays are obese. She admits that there are those days when she only sees patients with fat. And they’re younger now than they were before. Prior to now, the majority of obese patients were middle-aged or older. Currently, most people are in their 20s and 30s.
There are three main categories of obesity risk factors:
- Personality.
According to Dr. Tirissa J. Reid, an assistant professor of medicine in the department of medicine endocrinology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, certain behaviors, including consuming too many calories, eating the incorrect kinds of foods, and not exercising enough can cause obesity. Additionally, she works as a staff doctor at the New York City-based Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Weight Control Center. For instance, she cites that consuming a diet rich in calories and high in processed, fatty, and sugary foods might result in becoming overweight or obese.
2. Genetic.
Some people are more likely to become obese due to genetics. According to Graham, “your genes may influence how much body fat you store and where that fat is distributed.” The effectiveness with which your body turns food into energy and how your body burns calories while exercising may both be influenced by genetics.
- Environment
The likelihood of obesity and being overweight can be significantly influenced by where you reside, according to Graham. “Your ZIP code is more important than your genetic code when it comes to your overall health,” he asserts. “If you don’t have easy access to healthy foods, are unable to go outside, and are surrounded by stressors all the time, this might lead to an obese cycle. Even if two Americans may reside less than 10 miles apart, their life expectancies are drastically different. From secure housing and food security to employment prospects and legislation, many social variables affect health outcomes.
- The following are particular obesity risk factors:
- A calorie-dense diet.
- Minimal to none of it.
- Stress.
- Inheritance of obesity or overweight.
- Race and ethnicity (obesity rates are higher among African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics).
- Age (as you get older, your metabolism slows).
- Using drugs that cause weight gain (certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, and diabetic drugs cause weight gain).
- Bad sleep.
- There are other medical diseases that lower the body’s metabolic rate, such as hypothyroidism.
Techniques for Combating Obesity
The battle against obesity can be fought using a variety of tactics, according to College Station, Texas-based registered dietitian Lauren Merryman. Merryman is the senior team lead for Cecilia Health, a provider of health technology services with headquarters in New York City. In order to deliver strategies to enhance health outcomes for persons with diabetes and related chronic illnesses, Cecilia Health collaborates with pharmaceutical firms, payers, accountable care groups, and self-insured businesses. Here are 13 methods to combat obesity:
- Ask your healthcare provider for assistance.
- Consume a nutritious, Mediterranean-style diet.
- Become less stressed.
- Establish a regular sleep schedule.
- Regularly moving around.
- Think about using a weight-loss drug.
- Look into switching any weight-gaining drugs.
- Avoid binge watching.
- Set modest, doable objectives.
- Avoid skipping meals.
- Have a look at weight-loss surgery.
- Organize your appetite.
- Organize your surroundings.
- Speak with a medical professional who focuses on obesity if you need assistance.
According to Lisa Garcia, a registered dietitian with a practice in Laconia, New Hampshire, many obese people would benefit from working with a physician who specializes in obesity medicine and a registered dietitian who specializes in obesity and weight management. This is true even though it’s crucial for everyone to establish a positive relationship with their primary care provider. “Obesity is a chronic disease,” claims Garcia. According to her, obesity can be caused by a variety of physiological, behavioral, environmental, and emotional risk factors. According to Garcia, you can establish dietary and activity plans to assist you reach a healthier weight with the aid of healthcare specialists who are experienced in dealing with those risk factors.
- Follow a balanced Mediterranean diet.
According to Dr. Eric Pham, a bariatric surgeon and expert in weight loss at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, eating a Mediterranean diet is a fantastic way to lose weight in a healthy way. Vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and lean meat and poultry are all abundant in the Mediterranean diet. According to him, those who adhere to it will refrain from consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, fatty meats, and processed meals like snack chips. Such dishes include few nutrients and a lot of empty calories. It’s crucial to remember that the ideal food plan for losing weight is one you can stick to. Find a strategy that you can stick to that incorporates a variety of healthful foods.
3. Maintain stress control.
When trying to lose weight, Graham says it’s important to put your mental health first. “Managing stress, whether through exercise, mindfulness, or another activity, can help you lose weight,” he says. “Stress can cause loss of sleep, result in unhealthy eating, and prevent you from losing weight.”
- Establish a sound sleep schedule.
“The amount of sleep you get can play a big role in managing your weight and your heart health,” Graham claims. According to him, chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. He mentions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise adults between the ages of 18 and 60 should sleep for at least seven hours each night.
- Consistently work out.
Poor eating habits cannot be out-executed, but Reid claims that if you change your eating patterns, exercise can help you lose weight and keep it off. According to Reid, good possibilities include going for a walk, riding a bike, swimming, or working out in the gym with or without a trainer. She suggests incorporating brief bursts of exercise throughout the day. Start your lunch hour with a 10-minute walk, for instance, and get more exercise by getting off the train or bus a few stops earlier than usual or by parking your car in the spot that is furthest from the workplace. Every hour, stand up and stroll around the workplace for five minutes.