Obesity
The Mayo Clinic states that obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat.
Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight.
An obese person is 30 percent or more above his ideal body weight. An overweight person is 20 percent over their body weight.
Obesity Facts
From the Centers for Disease Control:
- Obesity is common, serious, and costly.
- More than one-third of adults (34.9%) are obese.
- Some of the leading causes of preventable death are the result of obesity-related conditions including heart disease, stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
- The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.
Obesity
The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or present the health problems associated with obesity.
Therapy may include counseling to address the psychological issues, a medical doctor to evaluate physical health and organic problems causing weight gain, dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes can help lose weight.
Prescription medications or weight loss surgery also may be options for treating obesity. Obesity is likely when an individual’s body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in meters (m) squared.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious illnesses that can be life-threatening.
They arise from a variety of physical, emotional, and social issues, all of which need to be addressed for effective prevention and treatment.
Prevention can be any systematic attempt to change the circumstances that promote, initiate, sustain, or intensify problems like eating disorders.
Treatment
Many people with eating disorders respond to outpatient therapy, including individual, group or family therapy and medical management by their primary care provider.
Inpatient care (including hospitalization and/or residential care in an eating disorders specialty unit or facility) is necessary when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that may be life threatening, or when an eating disorder is causing severe psychological or behavioral problems.
Inpatient stays typically require a period of outpatient follow-up and aftercare to address underlying issues in the individual’s eating disorder.
Recommended care is provided by a multidisciplinary team including but not limited to a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nutritionist, and/or a primary care physician.
Care should be coordinated and provided by a health professional with expertise and experience in dealing with eating disorders.
The exact treatment needs of each individual will vary. It is important for individuals struggling with an eating disorder to find a health professional they trust to help coordinate and oversee their care.
Take this screening test to determine if you have an eating disorder.
Online Eating Disorder Screening
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