Obesity

Obesity refers to body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. If you are obese, you have a much higher ratio of body fat than lean muscle mass. Generally, anyone more than 100 pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese.

Obesity can be the result of:

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

How is obesity harmful?

Medical problems frequently associated with untreated obesity and morbid obesity include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Certain cancers, including breast and colon
• Depression
• Osteoarthritis

Treatment

A combination of exercise and cutting calories appears to be more effective than either one alone. Sticking to a weight loss program is difficult. It requires a lot of support from family and friends. Here are some other encouraging and practical tips:

• Realize that even modest weight loss can improve your health.
• Work with your doctor or dietitian to develop a plan best for you.
• Focus and commit to eating a more healthy diet and exercising more.
• Adopt new behaviors: keep a food diary, avoid food triggers, think positively.

Again, work with your doctor on a plan that will work for you. Focus on health, not diets. Little steps mean a lot. Losing just 10 pounds can make a difference in your health.

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