MedZon Vellore Diabtes center >> Obesity and Sleep Lab

Obesity

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is not the same as being overweight, which means weighing too much. A person may be overweight from extra muscle, bone, or water, as well as from having too much fat. Both terms mean that a person's weight is higher than what is thought to be healthy for his or her height.

Obesity Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Taking in more calories than you burn can lead to obesity because the body stores unused calories as fat. Obesity can be caused by:

• Eating more food than your body can use
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Not getting enough exercise

Sometimes, medical problems or treatments cause weight gain, including:

• Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
• Medicines such as birth control pills, antidepressants, and antipsychotics

Other things that can cause weight gain are:

• Quitting smoking, Stress, anxiety, feeling sad, or not sleeping well
• For women:
• Menopause -- women may gain 12-15 pounds during menopause
• Not losing the weight they gained during pregnancy

Signs and tests

We will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history, eating habits, and exercise routine.
The two most common ways to measure health risks from your weight are:

• Body mass index (BMI)
• Waist circumference (your waist measurement in inches)

BMI is measured using height and weight. You and your health care provider can use your BMI to estimate how much body fat you have.

Treatment

CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE

An active lifestyle and regular exercise, along with healthy eating, is the best way to lose weight. The Doctor along with the dietician will provide you the diet chart along with/without medicines based on your BM and cause for obesity.