going deeper
Health Minute: Learning More About Obesity
Learning More About Obesity
Tuesday F. A. Cook, MD, an advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon with Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group spoke with Jerry and Blanca about obesity.
How common is obesity and how can someone know if they are obese?
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Very common
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2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese
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Use the Body Max Index (BMI) to determine if you are overweight or obese
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These can be found for free online
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This is an estimate of body fat that compares a person’s weight to their height
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A BMI of 30.0 to 39.9 is considered obesity
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A BMI of 40.0 and higher is considered extreme obesity
Are there factors that can increase a person’s chances of being obese?
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Absolutely.
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Often there’s a bias that people are obese because they lack self-control
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This is not true
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It can be a variety of things you CAN’T control such as:
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Genetics
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Medication side effects
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Hormonal imbalances
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Psychological factors
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However, there are some lifestyle habits you CAN control such as:
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Inactivity
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Poor diet and overeating
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Bad sleep habits
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Your environment
At what point should someone consider bariatric surgery?
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Bariatric surgery may be the right choice for you if:
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Diet and lifestyle changes haven’t helped you lose weight
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You have health conditions caused by obesity
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You weigh 80 to 100 pounds more than a healthy weight
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It’s a major lifestyle change so you must be prepared to make long-term changes
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Is it NOT the easy way out
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If you fit this criteria and want to learn more:
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Contact my office to schedule a consultation 240-724-6018
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Find me on the Adventist HealthCare website