What is obesity?
Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height or that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.
According to a 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control, obesity affects 34.5 percent of adults in Arkansas.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and some cancers.
What are the causes?
- Inactivity
- Poor eating habits
- Lack of sleep
- Certain medications
- Genetic conditions such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Bardet-Biedl syndrome
What treatment options are available?
For most people, a combination of diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight. If you need a little extra help, the Baptist Health Weight Loss Program may be best for you.
However, if you’ve tried everything and still can’t shed excess pounds or keep them off, you may want to consider surgery for weight loss. Find out more about Baptist Health Weight Loss Surgery.
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