Obesity
How the body regulates weight and body fat is not well understood, but weight management is a challenge for many of us at some point in our lives. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), more than 1 in 3 American adults are considered to be obese. That translates to more than 93 million adults in the United States.
Obesity is not a nonthreatening condition. Obesity is linked to hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and high cholesterol. It also contributes to conditions such as heart disease, stroke and arthritis. Losing weight may improve and even eliminate these conditions.
Know your body mass index (BMI)
One measurement you can use to find out whether you are overweight or obese is body mass index (BMI). Use our interactive body mass index calculator. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 is classified as obesity. Although BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, it may overestimate body fat in athletes and others with a muscular build. It also may underestimate body fat in older adults and others who have lost muscle mass.
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) offers several surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for obesity. If you are wondering whether weight-loss surgery is for you, we invite you to attend one of our regularly scheduled Weight-Loss Surgery Information Sessions. These free events are hosted by one of our weight-loss surgeons and will give you an opportunity to learn about the types of weight-loss surgeries offered at LVHN. You also will learn about nonsurgical treatment options, such as medically managed weight-loss programs. Registration is requested.
If you decide weight-loss surgery is not for you, you don’t need to go it alone. Work with our team of weight management specialists at LVHN’s Weight Management Center to find a program that is right for you.