Facts on Obesity

Obesity puts you at serious risk of developing health problems, such as heart disease and even cancer.

In this article:

What is obesity?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Effect on your life

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

What is obesity?
Obesity has become an increasing problem throughout the UK in recent years, and is an issue that the Department of Health has prioritised. However, there is much confusion – particularly amongst you people and the middle aged – as to what classifies someone as being obese, rather than overweight.

Simply put, if excess body fat is at a level where it affects your actual health, then you are considered to be obese.

Obesity can lead to health problems such Type-2 Diabetes, heart disease, extreme breathing difficulties, spinal damages and even some cancers (breast, colon, stomach and kidney cancer). It is not surprising then that obesity is such as major concern for UK health authorities.

As well as the health conditions above, if you are obese, associated problems can include:

High blood pressure

Infertility

Aching joints

Osteoarthritis

Gallstones

Sleeping problems

Snoring

Symptoms
As well as being dangerously overweight, associated symptoms of obesity can include:

Excessive sweating

Fatigue

Lethargy

An inability to manage tasks and/or activities which require physical activity in sudden bursts

Causes
Causes of obesity can include:

Eating too many calories (fatty foods, sugary drinks…) and not exercising enough to burn them off

Medical reasons, such as excessive production of steroid hormones in the body, underactive thyroid, metabolic syndrome and familial obesity

Certain medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and blood pressure drugs

Diagnosis
If you suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and are worried about your weight, then arrange to see your GP. After taking your medical history, they will ask you some questions about your symptoms and lifestyle. Your body mass index will then be checked:

About body mass index (BMI) is a measurement use to calculate if you are of a healthy weight in accordance with your height. By dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in metres) then dividing the answer you get by your height again (in metres) you arrive at your body mass index.

Your GP may also take your waist measurement.

Other tests may include:

A blood test (to measure cholesterol and blood glucose levels)

Blood pressure test

You will then be advised upon sensible lifestyle changes you can adopt, as well as treatment options available to you.

Treatment
Most people tackle obesity by adopting a healthier lifestyle which includes a combination of a nutritious and balanced diet with regular exercise. However, where this proves unsuccessful treatments may include:

Sibutramine medication – this makes you feel full after eating food in small portions

Orlistat medication – this controls the amount of fat in your food that your body absorbs

Surgery – usually a gastric bypass or gastric banding. However, these are usually only recommended where all other treatments and preventative measures have proved unsuccessful

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have products available to buy which can assist in weight loss.



www.chemistonline.co.uk



This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.





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