Obesity is a medical condition in which the excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it can lead to a reduced life expectancy and several diseases.
Developing countries are experiencing a more dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity in recent years. As per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), one in every four Indians is now having obesity.
What is Body Mass Index & How Its Calculated
Body mass index is used to define obesity and categorize the severity. The BMI is a statistical measurement calculated by the following formula:
BMI = Weight (in Kilograms) / Height (in m.) X Height (in m.)
If (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. If your BMI is 30 or over, you are considered obese.
BMI Range-kg/m2
Category
< 18.5
Underweight
18.5 - 23.5
Normal
23.5 - 27.5
Overweight
27.5 - 37.5
Obese
> 37.5
Morbidly Obese
> 50
Super Obese
> 60
Super Super Obese
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Causes of Obesity
Genetics
Genetics are responsible for affecting hormones in fat regulation. A person is more likely to be obese if one or both parents are obese.
Lack of Caloric Balance
If you are eating more calories than your body is using, there is a possibility that the extra calories get stored, and you can gain weight.
An Inactive Lifestyle
Lack of physical exercise and excess screen time as well as mechanization of jobs is also developing obesity.
Our environment
Easily available processed and unhealthy foods, and oversized food portions increases the chances of obesity.
Medications
Few medications associated with weight gain include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diabetes medications, steroids, and some high blood pressure medications and antihistamines.
Psychological factors
Factors like emotional stress, anger, sadness can also lead to weight gain, as people tend to eat more during such conditions.
Diseases
Conditions like hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome also contribute to obesity
What is Morbid Obesity
Those people who are morbidly obese are at a greater risk of illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallstones, osteoarthritis, heart disease, infertility and cancer. Morbid obesity is a state of severe obesity and is defined by the following condition
If a person has a BMI above 37.5 with or without associated illness or BMI above 32.5 with diseases like diabetes, hypertension are considered to be morbidly obese.
Common Obesity Related Conditions
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Joint pains
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gallstone disease
Increased chances of developing certain cancers including breast, prostate, colon, uterus, and ovaries
Sleeping disorders like Obstructive sleep apnea
Infertility/Polycystic ovarian disease
Depression/Anxiety/low self esteem
Link Between Obesity and Diabetes
What is Obesity?
An obese person has accumulated so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on their health. If a person's body weight is at least 20% higher than it should be, he or she is considered obese. Obesity can in turn lead to complications like Diabetes, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Osteoarthritis.
Is there a link between Obesity and Diabetes?
Of the people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, about 80 to 90% are also diagnosed as obese. This fact provides an interesting clue to the link between diabetes and obesity.
Being overweight can cause your body to become resistant to insulin. If you already have diabetes, this means you will need to take even more insulin to get sugar into your cells. And if you do not have diabetes, the prolonged effects of the insulin resistance can eventually cause you to develop the disease
Indians are genetically susceptible to weight accumulation, especially around the waist.
In MALES, compared with a healthy weight man, an obese man is 5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
In FEMALES, an obese woman, compared with a healthy weight woman, is almost 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
The traditional approach to treat TYPE 2 DM (Diabetes Mellitus) has been step wise introduction of lifestyle changes with or without oral medications, saving the insulin therapy for last. Treatment should focus equally on remission of both diabetes and obesity and needs to be widely understood. In the light of escalating global diabetes crisis, the need of the hour is to identify interventions that provide a long-term metabolic outcome (obesity and associated diseases remission).
There are several methods for treating obesity, such as lifestyle changes encompassing behaviour modification, physical activity, diet modification and medical management. It has been seen that the sustained weight loss is achieved by only 10% of the population.
Treatment Options for Obesity
First and foremost, weight-loss starts with lifestyle changes: diet and exercise. The first step is to talk to your healthcare provider.
The various treatment options available for obesity are as follows:
When medical treatments are not sufficient, surgical options may be considered. These are typically for individuals with severe obesity (BMI ? 40 or ? 35 with obesity-related conditions). Common surgical treatments include:
Bariatric Surgeries:
Gastric Bypass: Creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it directly to the small intestine, limiting food intake and calorie absorption.
Sleeve Gastrectomy: Removes a portion of the stomach, reducing its size and limiting food intake.
Adjustable Gastric Band: A band placed around the upper stomach to create a small pouch, controlling hunger and intake.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch: : A complex surgery that reduces stomach size and bypasses a portion of the small intestine.
Medications:
Appetite suppressants: Medications like phentermine, liraglutide help reduce hunger.
Fat absorption inhibitors: Orlistat blocks fat absorption in the intestines.
GLP-1 Agonists: Medications that reduce appetite and slow digestion.
Non-Invasive Procedures:
Intragastric Balloons: Endoscopic placement of a balloon in the stomach to induce a feeling of fullness.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG): A minimally invasive procedure that reduces stomach size.
Diet and Exercise
If BMI >23.5, certain lifestyle modifications, changes in diet, increase in physical activity, and practicing healthy eating habits can reduce obesity. They will help choose the diet that is most appropriate. The diet choices are usually determined by the existing medical problems among other factors and should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Both calorie reduction diets and Low carbohydrate diets work well. But the right choice is made by discussing with your doctor based on your health conditions.
To attain and maintain any amount of weight-loss, exercise is mandatory. Generally, an average of at least one hour, five days a week is needed. But this again should be monitored by your healthcare provider to assure safe exercise practices.
Weight loss drugs
If BMI > 27.5 with co-morbidities or >30 with or without co-morbidities, pharmacotherapy with weight loss drugs is recommended. Close medical monitoring is required while taking a prescribed weight-loss medications.
To attain and maintain any amount of weight-loss, exercise is mandatory. Generally, an average of at least one hour, five days a week is needed. But this again should be monitored by your healthcare provider to assure safe exercise practices.
Surgery
If BMI >32.5 with co-morbidities or >37.5 with or without co-morbidities, bariatric surgery is the right choice of treatment. Weight loss surgery for obesity may be considered if other methods to lose weight have not worked.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT LOSS IS REQUIRED?
When thinking about weight-loss, one often has an "ideal" body weight in mind or an ultimate weight-loss goal. It is quite common for people to think that unless they lose dozens of KILOGRAMS, they will not be any healthier.
This is a misconception. Studies have shown that health benefits resulting from weight-loss are evident with a weight reduction as low as 5-10 percent. This means that an individual that weighs 100KG will benefit greatly from losing 10 KG.
There's scientific evidence that many obesity-related conditions improve with a 5-10 percent weight-loss. It ultimately lead to incredibly significant benefits including a lesser chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
At Dr. KMH, we take pride in being recognized as the best obesity hospital in Chennai, offering state-of-the-art facilities and a comprehensive approach to obesity treatment. With a dedicated team of experts and advanced medical technology, we provide personalized care plans tailored to each patient's needs. Located on Pallikaranai Radial Road, our hospital is home to the best obesity doctor, known for delivering successful weight-loss solutions through both medical and surgical interventions. Whether it's advanced bariatric surgery or holistic weight management programs, Dr. KMH ensures a path to healthier living for all our patients.
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