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| Obesity | |||
| Prevalence (home) | |||
| Definition | |||
| Causes | |||
| Why Be Worried? | |||
| Psycho-Social Factors | |||
| Medical Complications | |||
| Hypertension | |||
| Diabetes | |||
| Cholesterol | |||
| Fatty Liver | |||
| Metabolic Syndrome | |||
| Cancer | |||
| Osteoarthritis | |||
| Gallstones | |||
| Heart Attacks/Strokes | |||
| Sleep Apnea | |||
| Medical Treatments | |||
| Gimmicks & Low Carbs | |||
| FAQ's | |||
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| Weight Management Programs | |||
| For Patients | |||
| For Injured Workers | |||
| For Case Managers | |||
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| Eating Disorders | |||
| Compulsive Overeating | Diagnostic Criteria | ||
| Eating Behaviors & Moods | |||
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| Resources | |||
| Patient Education | |||
| Obesity Education Programs (first airing June, 2004) | Consulting & Med-legal Asst | ||
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| Cigna Hall of Shame | |||
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| Accessibility/Section 508 | |||
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| Office Location/Appts. | |||
| Michael D. Myers, M.D.,Inc. | |||
| 10861 Cherry Street, Suite 300 | |||
| Los Alamitos, CA (U.S.) 90720 | |||
| Voice: (562) 493-2266 | |||
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Complications of Obesity
Obesity is a serious illness that can lead to many medical complications. Unfortunately, it is relatively rare for physicians to treat obesity itself because it requires a difficult, long-term process to treat effectively. However, treatment for its complications is done at enormous cost.Hypertension
One of the most common complications of obesity is hypertension, or high blood pressure. Around 30% of individuals who are at least 30 lbs. overweight have at least mildly elevated blood pressure. The etiology of this increase in blood pressure appears to be related to substances produced by adipose (fat) tissue and to the increase in the hormone insulin that occurs with obesity. Obese individuals with hypertension should first be treated with dietary methods in an attempt to reduce their weight. You do not have to reduce to an "ideal" body weight to control the hypertension; rather a 10% reduction of body weight combined with avoidance of excess salt intake can normalize blood pressure and reduce or eliminate the need for blood pressure medications.For general information on hypertension, click here.
Diabetes
Obesity is the leading cause of diabetes. The risk of diabetes is increased over 53 fold (53 times the "normal" rate) with severe obesity. Of the over 18 million diabetics in the United States (2002 data), about 10% are juvenile onset or Type 1 diabetics. These individuals generally develop diabetes at an early age, usually before the age of 20. This type is not related to obesity. Diabetes developing in childhood, until about 1980, was almost always Type 1; but with the significant increase in childhood obesity, up to 40% (depending on ethnicity, which is also associated with diabetes) have Type 2 diabetes (discussed below).
The 90% of diabetics that are “adult onset” (more formally
known as Type 2) diabetics generally develop their diabetes
in their middle years (30's to 60's). This type of diabetes is almost
always associated with obesity and appears to be related to hormonal substances
(cytokines) produced by adipose (fat) tissue and to the
increase amount of blood lipids (fats) that occurs in diabetes. In the
majority of obese individuals with diabetes, reducing body weight by 10%
can eliminate or reduce the need for oral medications or insulin injections.
For general information on diabetes, click here.
Elevated cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) is commonly associated with obesity. On average, every 10 lbs. of excess fat produces 10 mg. of cholesterol per day. In other words, putting on 25 extra lbs. leads to the equivalent of taking in one extra egg yolk per day. Cholesterol levels are determined by both genetics and diet. Two-thirds of your cholesterol level is genetically determined, while the remaining one-third is related to diet. Most people can successfully control their cholesterol by reducing both their fat intake and weight.For general information on elevated cholesterol, click here.
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| Updated:
28 May 2004. Copyright © 1996-2004 Michael D. Myers, M.D., Inc. All rights reserved. |
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The above information is for general purposes only and should not be construed as definitive or binding medical advice. Because each person is medically different, individuals should consult their own personal physicians for specific information and/or treatment recommendations.