Obesity

Thyroid function test results are also typically normal, but checking them to detect primary hypothyroidism (characterized by increased serum thyrotropin and normal or reduced thyroxine and/or triiodothyronine levels) is worthwhile. Screening with a serum thyrotropin level is usually sufficient. Of importance, hypothyroidism itself rarely causes more than mild obesity. Read More

Liver function tests yield normal results in most obese patients. However, elevated transaminase levels may indicate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fatty infiltration of the liver. Read More

Mesomorphic body states, as seen in bodybuilders and people in related occupations (e.g., professional wrestling), may be associated with elevated BMIs, but as a result of increased muscle mass rather than excess adiposity. In addition, anasarca may be mistaken for obesity if not carefully evaluated clinically. Other conditions to consider while examining for obesity include […] Read More

In the clinical examination, anthropometric parameters are measured and the standard, detailed examination required in evaluating patients with any chronic, multisystem disorder, such as obesity, is performed. Waist and hip circumference are useful surrogates in estimating visceral fat; serial tracking of these measurements helps in estimating the clinical risk over time. Neck circumference is predictive […] Read More

A longitudinal study by Stessman et al of more than 1000 individuals indicated that a normal BMI, rather than obesity, is associated with a higher mortality rate in elderly people. The investigators determined that a unit increase in BMI in female members of the cohort could be linked to hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.94 at […] Read More

For a person with a BMI of 25-28.9 kg/m2, the relative risk for coronary heart disease is 1.72. The risk progressively increases with an increasing BMI; with BMIs greater than 33 kg/m2, the relative risk is 3.44. Similar trends have been demonstrated in the relationship between obesity and stroke or chronic heart failure. Overall, obesity […] Read More

Data from insurance databases and large, prospective cohorts, such as findings from the Framingham and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) studies, clearly indicate that obesity is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates. The adverse consequences of obesity may be attributed in part to comorbidities, but results from several observational […] Read More

Children, particularly adolescents, who are obese, have a high probability of becoming adults who are obese; hence, the bimodal distribution of obesity portends a large-scale obesity epidemic in the next few decades. Taller children generally tend to be more obese than shorter peers, are more insulin-resistant, and have increased leptin levels. Adolescent obesity poses a […] Read More

Obesity is a cosmopolitan disease that affects all races worldwide. However, certain ethnic and racial groups appear to be particularly predisposed. The Pima Indians of Arizona and other ethnic groups native to North America have a particularly high prevalence of obesity. In addition, Pacific islanders (Polynesians, Micronesians, Maoris), African Americans, and Hispanic populations (either Mexican […] Read More

In 2016, a study by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration indicated 124 million children and adolescents worldwide were obese, compared with 11 million in 1975. According to the study, 73% of this change resulted from an increased prevalence of obesity (as opposed to other factors, such as population growth). The study also reported that between […] Read More