Obesity - Renewal Center

What is obesity?

Obesity is defined as excessive body fat accumulation that may impair health. It is most commonly caused by a combination of factors including poor diet and lack of physical activity.

Some key facts about obesity:

• Obesity increases the risk for many serious health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even some types of cancer. It can also negatively impact mental health and quality of life.
• Obesity rates have nearly tripled worldwide since 1975 according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Obesity now affects over 650 million adults globally.
• The fundamental cause of obesity is an energy imbalance - when calorie intake exceeds calories burned through physical activity over time. "Consuming foods high in sugar and fat combined with a sedentary lifestyle are major culprits," says Dr. Smith, an obesity specialist at Renewal Center.

What causes obesity?

While genetics and some medical conditions can increase obesity risk, the main causes are:

• Overeating - Consuming more calories than needed leads to weight gain over time. Things like large portion sizes and high-calorie processed foods make overeating easy.
• Lack of exercise - Physical activity burns calories. With sedentary desk jobs and increased screen time, many struggle to exercise enough.
• Unhealthy diet - Diets high in processed foods, sugar, refined carbs and unhealthy fats lead to weight gain.
• Certain medications - Some medications like steroids or antidepressants may cause weight gain.
• Stress - Chronic stress can disrupt hormones that regulate hunger leading to overeating.

"Lifestyle changes starting with diet and exercise provide the foundation for healthy, sustainable weight loss," emphasizes Dr. Linda with Renewal Center.

How is obesity treated?

The main obesity treatments focus on lifestyle changes:

• Diet - Reducing calories by eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Individualized meal plans from dietitians can be helpful. Our clinicians at Renewal Center specialize in customized weight loss programs.
• Exercise - Aiming for 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week (walking, cycling etc) helps burn calories and boost metabolism. Resistance training also builds metabolism-boosting muscle.
• Behavioral therapy - Techniques to identify and change negative thought patterns around food and address emotional eating triggers. We offer one-on-one counseling.
• Medications - In some cases, prescription meds like Orlistat may be used to aid weight loss but work best with lifestyle changes. "We help patients determine if medications are appropriate after assessing health history," says Dr. Lee.
• Bariatric surgery - For severe obesity, procedures like gastric bypass that reduce stomach size are an option when other treatments haven't worked.