3. Obesity as a Disease: Overweight and Obesity Risk Classification Body mass index (BMI)(weight [kg]/height [m2]), a simple formula highly correlated with body fat, is used to assess a person's relative health risk. Waist circumference, which is positively correlated with abdominal fat, is an independent predictor of risk factors and morbidity. BMI and waist circumference should be thought of as a continuum - as they increase, so do health risks, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes.
4. Obesity as a Disease: Health Benefits of Weight Loss
Your patients may believe that the only way to improve comorbidities is by losing a large amount of weight - a goal that may be difficult for many patients to achieve. You can reassure your patients that losing even a small amount of their initial body weight and maintaining this loss can improve the health risks associated with obesity. Many of the comorbidities and risk factors for major cardiovascular disease occur in combination in obese patients; the management of obesity should therefore be regarded as an important therapeutic goal. A modest weight loss can result in a disproportionate loss of visceral fat, thereby reducing the health risks associated with abdominal obesity.
