I’m Comfortable in My Obesity: Should I Have Health Concerns?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that two in five people in the United States are living with obesity. This long-term (chronic) condition is described as having excess body fat or a body mass index (BMI) over 30. 

Unfortunately, when you’re obese, even if you feel comfortable in your own skin and don’t notice any issues, carrying all those extra pounds puts you at serious risk for numerous health complications, including premature death.

At Clover Internal Medicine Associates in Fort Worth, Texas, our team led by internal medicine experts Elaine Phuah, DO, MBA, FACOI, and Leon Tio, DO, MA, FACOI, understands that it may not feel necessary to lose weight or desirable for that matter. However, we also want you to know how important it is to be at a healthy weight. 

This month’s blog explores some health issues obesity can cause and how we can help with our medically supervised weight management programs. 

Heart disease

Obesity can affect your body by raising your blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels. Both of these things can increase your risk for all sorts of cardiovascular health issues, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attack. 

Thankfully, losing even a small amount of weight can lower your risk for these diseases. 

Type 2 diabetes

Obesity is one of the top risk factors for type 2 diabetes. In fact, having this chronic condition makes you six times more likely to have high blood sugar. Physical exercise and a nutritious diet can keep your blood sugar at a healthier level and help you lose some excess weight simultaneously. 

Cancers

Over half a million cases of cancer diagnosed in the United States each year are linked to obesity. These can be cancers of the colon, kidneys, gallbladder, ovaries, pancreas, breast, endometrium, and many others. While other factors can play a role in your risk for cancer development, you can lower your risk by shedding some pounds. 

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when your airways narrow while sleeping. It’s been heavily linked to obesity, and around 50% of those who are obese have obstructive sleep apnea. It can cause snoring, sleep disruptions, and daytime sleepiness. Your risk for heart attack and stroke also goes up when you have obstructive sleep apnea. 

Try our comprehensive weight-loss programs

Losing just 5-10% of excess body weight can lower your risk for most of these conditions. Because of that, it’s important to do whatever you can to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight. 

However, underlying health conditions or even genetics often hinder your ability to lose weight. At Clover Internal Medicine Associates, we offer weight management services to discover what might be holding you back from shedding excess weight effectively and find a weight-loss method that will work best for you. 

We offer nutritional counseling, supplements, exercise programs, and prescription weight-loss medications. 

To get started with any of our weight management services, schedule an appointment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.