When it comes to such a complex condition as obesity, we know how important a holistic approach is. Every person who comes through our door can count on professional help and full support in their journey to recovery.
Obesity may pose many serious health complications, so it might be beneficial to manage it under the supervision of a medical professional.
How to Diagnose Obesity?
Obesity can be diagnosed by a primary care physician during an appointment. There are many factors that should be taken into account when making a diagnosis. These are:
- Health history. A doctor can ask you about your lifestyle, dietary choices, appetite control, stress levels, as well as your and your family’s health history. This is especially true for South and South East Asians. The risk of obesity is much higher due to genetics, so proactive approaches are paramount to prevent progression.
- Physical examination. During an exam, a doctor will check your vitals and measure your weight and height to calculate your BMI.
- Calculating BMI. This might be helpful in determining whether or not you can be considered obese. Usually, BMI scores higher than 30 indicates obesity. Some ethnicities like Asians and South Asians can have a normal BMI but be metabolically obese. Please discuss with one of our providers regarding your specific circumstances.
- Measuring waist circumference. Abdominal fat may, in some cases, be one of the indicators of obesity. Women with more than 35 inches and men with more than 40 inches in their waist measurement may be considered obese.
- InBody 570 – Our office has the InBody Machine to accurately measure your body composition. InBody uses advanced Bioelectrical Impedance technology to evaluate your muscle versus fat makeup. This tool helps our providers create a personalized plan for you.
- Additional health issues. To correctly diagnose obesity, a doctor will take into account any other related or not health issues.
We are aware of the fact that for many people, problems with weight and complications that are caused by them are difficult to discuss or overcome. Our approach is always to listen, provide professional advice, and treat every patient with care and empathy.
The Importance of Weight Management
Individuals who are obese can be at risk of many severe conditions, such as heart diseases, different types of cancer, or type 2 diabetes. For this reason, implementing proper habits and treatments can be vital to managing the illness and potential health complications resulting from it.
The goal of weight management is to achieve and maintain a healthy, balanced body weight. Change in a lifestyle that includes more physical activity and a healthy diet, as well as medications and various treatments, can be a valuable strategy in reversing obesity.
You can get help by contacting us at (407) 273-9410.