The Serious Nature of Obesity-related Conditions
Obesity can affect people physically in a number of ways. Board certified general surgeon Dr. Matthew St. Laurent treats Houston-area patients with a variety of obesity-related disorders, regardless of whether or not they elect to undergo bariatric surgery.
Obesity is a major health crisis in our country. More than 65 million adults and 10 million children suffer from obesity. If you are at least 20% more than what is considered normal weight for your height, then you are obese. But,being overweight or obese isn’t just a cosmetic problem. Being morbidly obese can compromise your health, shorten your life, and even cause death. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can negatively effect the health of any number of systems in your body.
Common Obesity-related Conditions
Medical conditions are often related to other diseases and conditions. Obesity has long been associated with a number of health conditions, and the amount of risk increases as a person’s weight increases. If you are overweight, the probabilities of developing heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure increase significantly. Many of the patients we see at our Houston clinic are suffering from one or more of the following disorders (co-morbidities):
- Breast, colon, or endometrial cancer
- Coronary heart disease
- Dyslipidemia, which involves abnormal lipids or fat in the bloodstream
- Gallbladder and digestive disorders
- Gynecological problems
- Hypertension
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Liver disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Respiratory disorders
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
Not everyone who is obese has all of these problems. If you have a family history of one of these conditions, however, your risk rises.
Other Conditions
Obesity doesn’t just affect patients physically; it can leave behind some very real emotional scars as well. Those who are severely overweight may suffer from low self-esteem or find certain social situations awkward. Many claim it directly affects their employment and career opportunities as well.
Even though obesity can result in a number of other conditions, the good news is these conditions tend to improve when weight starts coming off. As such, a visit to our Houston clinic can truly transform your life in more ways than one. Contact us at 281-301-1404 to find out more.
