Obesity Specialist

What is obesity?

Obesity occurs when you have more body fat than what is considered healthy.

Fat, or adipose tissue, plays a few important roles in your body. It stores energy and cushions and insulates the body. Besides being found under the skin, fat tissue is present near internal organs. When too much of this tissue builds up in your body, obesity occurs, and it can lead to health issues.

Your Bellevue-Redmond doctor calculates your body mass index to determine whether your fat levels are healthy. If this number is higher than 30%, you’re considered to be obese.

What causes obesity?

When your body stores excess calories, they’re stored as fat. Several factors can lead to an unhealthy amount of fat cells, such as:

• Unhealthy diet
• Inactivity
• Hormones
• Genetics
• Age
• Pregnancy
• Medical problems
• Certain medications
• Economic and social issues
• Lack of sleep

Not only does obesity run in families through genetics, but your family’s lifestyle can also play a role. These factors include your family’s food choices, activity levels, and other influences that can lead to weight issues.

What are the health risks associated with obesity?

Nearly 70% of Americans are either obese or overweight. All those people are at risk for several other health risks, including:

• Increases your blood pressure
• Leads to type 2 diabetes
• Raises triglyceride levels and cholesterol
• Lowers HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol associated with lower stroke and heart disease risks
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and breathing disorders
• Gallbladder disease
• Stroke and heart attack
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Obesity can also impact your sexual health by causing erectile dysfunction, infertility, and irregular periods. It can even reduce your quality of life by deterring you from engaging in activities you used to love.

How is obesity treated?

Your physician at Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond works with you to create a comprehensive health care plan to address your obesity. Following a complete physical exam and full medical history, they partner with you in a long-term commitment to your health that may include:

• Regular exercise
• Healthy meal plans
• Weight monitoring
• Recognizing patterns that trigger unhealthy eating
• Counseling and behavior modification
• Stress management

Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond is ready to provide support, education, and encouragement to help you manage your weight. Call today or schedule an appointment online to learn.