Obesity

Obesity is a chronic (long-term) condition with many causes that leads to too much body fat and sometimes, bad health. Too much body fat is not a disease, but often when there is too much body fat it changes the way the body works. These changes can lead to poor health outcomes such as joint pain, asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

There are no specific symptoms of obesity. Your healthcare provider may diagnose you based on your past medical history and your body mass index (BMI). They may also order tests to rule out other medical conditions.

What is body mass index (BMI)?

Your BMI is a measure of the amount of fat in your body. It is based on your weight and height. It is important to note that body mass index is a screening tool and not a diagnosis. To diagnose obesity, other measures such as waist size are used to better understand your health.

Below are the BMI categories for adults:

• Underweight is a BMI of less than 18.5
• Healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
• Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9
• Obesity is a BMI of 30 or above

If you have noticed weight gain or have a family history of obesity, you may want to take steps to prevent obesity sooner rather than later. Small steps can make a big impact on your health including:

• Removing 1 sugary or high calorie snack from your day
• Adding a small daily exercise like a 30-minute walk after work
• Making sure you get enough sleep
• Focusing on positive changes

Your overall health will help your provider know the best treatment plan for you. Sometimes there are changes that can be made right way like changing a medicine, but weight loss takes time and the treatment will be long term. Since many things need to be taken into consideration, there may be some trial and error to figure out the best treatment plan for you. Your treatment plan may include:

• Changes in diet
• More physical activity – check with your doctor before starting any exercise program
• Behavioral therapy, counseling, or support groups
• Medicine
• Weight loss surgery

Your health care team can go over your health risks and talk to you about what treatment options are best for you.

• BMI calculator
• Calorie calculator
• Target heart rate calculator
• Healthy eating plate
• My Plate
• Healthy recipes

• Alliance training: Healthy Eating on a Budget
• Mayo Clinic
• National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute
• Kids on the Move
• Cleveland Clinic
• Obesity Action Coalition
• Durham Network of Care
• Wake Network of Care
• Eat Smart
  • Aisle by Aisle Video Series
  • Healthy Snacks Guide
  • Knowing When You’re Full
• How to Change Behavior
• NC Health Info