Weight Gain & Obesity: Am I Overweight?
Has your weight been creeping up over the years?
Or did you seem to pack on the pounds overnight, waking up one morning to find that nothing fit?
Weight gain can be caused by a wide range of factors: hormonal changes that come with age; an underactive thyroid; sleep apnea; metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that raise your chances of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Weight gain can even be a side effect of insomnia or depression.
Understanding obesity and the condition of being overweight can be difficult. Let’s explore the common symptoms, the definition of obesity, and how you can get help if you would like to lose weight or start a weight loss program.
Obese vs. Overweight
The table below from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shows BMI ranges for overweight & obesity in adults 20 and older.
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | Weight Classification |
|---|---|
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Normal, or healthy weight |
| 25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30+ | Obesity (including severe obesity) |
| 40+ | Severe obesity |
Check your BMI and compare to the chart above.
Overweight and Obesity Definitions
What percentage of Americans are obese?
“More than 50% of U.S. adults are overweight and 1 in 5 adults are obese.”
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) using data from 2017-2018,
Obesity Symptoms
The symptoms of obesity and overweight vary, but symptoms of obesity may include:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher
- Breathlessness: experience shortness of breath or wheezing and sometimes sleep apnea
- Excessive sweating
- Joint pain & stiffness
- Difficulty sleeping and possibly sleep apnea
- Fatigue and tiredness
It’s important to work with a healthcare provider or weight loss doctor to determine how your weight may be affecting your health. Forum Health offers advanced testing for conditions related to weight gain & solutions for weight loss.
Just as there is no single cause of weight gain, there is also no single solution. At Forum Health, our experienced physicians get to the root cause of your weight gain. Through advanced testing, a thorough history, and a discussion of your needs and goals, our Forum Health team will create a multifaceted weight loss plan that works for you, for the long haul.
To learn more, contact us or schedule an appointment today!
We understand the weight loss journey can be difficult and can help guide you through a personalized plan that will get you to the results you are looking for.
Our Medical Weight Loss Program
Our purpose is to enhance your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing by improving your overall health and wellness. This helps patients enjoy life to the fullest.
You can rest assured that you will be comfortable from the start of your journey until you reach your weight loss goal. We specialize in weight loss and understand the struggles that you will face along your journey. Throughout the process you will get the support, nutritional guidance and accountability necessary to keep you on track in order to obtain your ultimate goal.
We have numerous tips and tricks to help you to achieve your long term weight loss goals. We do not just focus on short-term weight loss, but also on long-term weight maintenance. We do not subscribe to any quick weight loss fads or gimmicks.
Our goal for you is to:
- Decrease your fat storage
- Become more metabolically active
- Have more energy
- Determine any root-causes of your weight gain and determine the next steps to fix them.
Program Highlights
Features of our medical weight loss program, include but not limited to:
An initial, one-on-one consultation with one of our highly trained physician assistants to get you started on your plan.
All natural vitamin supplements and weight loss injections to assist your body in processing fat loss.
Your first prescription of Semaglutide or other appropriate prescription to support appetite control.
Three one-on-one accountability coaching to keep you on track and to support any issues that may come up along the way.
Forum Health's Solution to Weight Loss Resistance
Weight loss resistance can be multifactorial with causes varying from person to person. Some of the most common underlying factors include hormonal imbalances, chronic stress, lack of sleep, genetics, and a poor diet. Additionally, people with a family history of obesity or insulin resistance may be more prone to weight gain and have difficulty shedding excess pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Harvard school of public health, a healthy BMI is defined as:
- For adult men and women, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy BMI.
- Overweight is defined as a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9; and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
- Poor gut health
- Inflammation
- Candida
- Chronic illness
- Toxin build-up
- Stress and too much cortisol
- Lack of sleep
- Slowed metabolism
- Aging
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
- Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
- High triglycerides
- High blood glucose (sugar)
- Family history of premature heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Cigarette smoking
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