Obesity Introduction
Home > Blog
WHAT IS OBESITY ?
Obesity is a very common disease in the United States that is costly and causes serious consequences to our health. Obesity affects every aspect of our life from breathing, mood, and social interaction to sexual function and memory leading to poor quality of life. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gallbladder, and fatty liver disease. Obesity has also been linked with depression, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, back pain, infertility, and cancer.
In 2019, the overall medical costs for adults with obesity were found to be $1,861 higher than medical costs for people with a healthy weight. In the last three decades, the rate of obesity has been increasing steadily across the US.
In the US, the rate of obesity was found to be 41.9% from 2017 to March 2020. The obesity prevalence was 39.8% among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.3% among adults 40 to 59 years, and 41.5% among adults 60 years and older. By 2030, nearly 50% of US adults are estimated to be classified as obese.
PREVETNTION
AND EARLY
INTERVENTION
Prevention or early intervention in managing obesity could drastically improve an individual’s health, improve quality of life and save large expenses in healthcare costs. In addition, studies have shown that even with a weight loss of as little as 5% among individuals with overweight or obesity, there have been reductions in blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and good blood glucose control.
Lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise, are vital in the management of obesity. However, weight loss or weight maintenance through lifestyle intervention is challenging and not sustainable for many individuals.
Bariatric surgery & Pharmacological therapy
Bariatric surgery has shown to be an effective strategy as a weight loss treatment and in improving cardiovascular disease results. This might not be a feasible option for everyone as not every individual qualifies for bariatric surgery. In addition, it is expensive, invasive, and can be associated with severe complications.
Pharmacological therapy is recommended in addition to lifestyle modification for people who have been diagnosed as obese meaning they have a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, or a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 with co-morbidities. Medication management with anti-obesity medication can help people with obesity achieve and maintain their target weight loss.
Overcoming Barriers to Care for People with Obesity
Despite all the evidence-based information and available FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, people with obesity encounter difficulty accessing or receiving the care they deserve. Many clinics and providers are hesitant to start anti-obesity medications due to provider inexperience and less depth of understanding about the safety and efficacy of available treatments.
Therefore, at Everest Diabetes and Endocrinology, after a comprehensive assessment of your medical history and in collaboration with you, we will discuss weight loss medication options. Our Board Certified Nurse Practitioner is specialized in Diabetes and Endocrinology and has extensive knowledge and experience treating obesity with medications, diet, and lifestyle changes.
