Doctor's Notes on Obesity
Obesity is a result of the accumulation of excess fat on the body. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30. The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. Obesity is considered a chronic disease that has serious long-term health consequences for overall health, and it is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S.
The main symptom of obesity is excess weight. Being obese can cause or increase the risk of other health problems including
- heart disease,
- diabetes,
- high blood pressure,
- stroke,
- osteoarthritis (especially knee and hip joint pain, and lower back pain),
- gout,
- gallstones,
- lung disease,
- insomnia from sleep apnea and snoring,
- fungal rashes in skin folds,
- colon cancer, endometrial cancer,
- depression, and
- dementia.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.