Obesity means having too much body fat. Obesity is a serious medical condition that can cause complications such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and cancers. Read about the causes of obesity and find out what you can do to decrease your risk of associated health issues.
Obesity is often a precursor to Fatty Liver Disease
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Obesity
Normal Abominable Visceral Fat / Toxic Abominable Visceral Fat
Visceral Fat
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Normal Abominable Visceral Fat / Toxic Abominable Visceral Fat
Visceral Fat
As the body ages, metabolism slows and the amount of fat in the body gradually increases. Fat may accumulate in the abdomen, both superficially and deep within. This deeply embedded fat is called visceral fat, and it surrounds the vital organs of the abdomen. Visceral fat has been found to secrete toxins, which may penetrate into the abdominal organs, particularly the liver. Visceral fat has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other dangerous conditions.
Over the years, if we don't take care of our bodies, our blood vessels can start to lose their resiliency and plaque can start to build up in our arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, inflammatory (immune) cells, calcium, and other substances that flow through our bloodstreams. Plaque buildup occurs if we eat high-fat diets, don't get enough exercise, are overweight, smoke, or have other unhealthy habits.
LDL - the "bad" cholesterol transports cholesterol throughout the body. Excess cholesterol can accumulate on arterial walls and form hard plaques.
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Obesity
Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height.
Obesity happens over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active.
Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. If you have obesity, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases. For example, that means losing 10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.
Source: NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Additional Materials (17)
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Obesity Epidemic
Top experts talk about why obesity is so strongly linked to the four major causes of death in the US-heart disease, cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Discover the many disorders associated with obesity: infertility, back pain, Alzheimer's disease, sleep apnea, and more. Find out what your BMI is and why it matters. You'll see why our bodies aren't suited to our modern way of life. Learn how we respond to the wrong cues when we eat and ignore our natural, internal cues. Journey inside your blood vessels and see, on a microscopic level, exactly what happens when you overeat. Witness how fat cells transform from tiny individual cells into a massive tissue. How do we change the tide? Dieting is not the answer! You'll find out how to make little changes in your life that add up to big ones.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Childhood Obesity & Heart Disease
This video explains obesity in children and its risk factor towards adulthood. Children who carry "extra weight" are at an increased risk of developing heart diseases. Comparing the arteries of healthy person, an artery of an obese individual reveals how the vessel is unable to dilate sufficiently forcing the heart to work harder and tire more easily.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Obesity Is Toxic
How does obesity lead to diabetes? Extremely overweight people have high levels of unbound fatty acids floating around in their bloodstreams. The surplus affects the liver's ability to store sugar, and the pancreas's ability to produce insulin to take up blood sugar. When these systems stop working, blood sugar becomes too high. The cells' natural response to insulin is disrupted and a person develops insulin resistance or diabetes. Further, insulin resistant and diabetic people build up visceral fat, which can lead to inflammation and more complications.
Video by TheVisualMD
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How Does Obesity Affect Hypertension?
If you're obese, you're at high risk for hypertension. Even moderately obese people have double the risk for hypertension as non-obese people. Having hypertension means the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries is too high. Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer" because, although it frequently has no symptoms, it can be deadly. It can cause heart disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and other types of damage.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Overweight Boy with Fast Beating Heart
A video of an overweight boy holding his side during a physical education class. It begins as a still with the boy in color while everything else is in gray scale The camera zooms into his chest to view a fast beating heart. When the camera zooms out the scene is in color and the boy continues walking.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Dr. David Katz on fats crucial role
Fat is a critical component of your body:Cell membrane function. Fats and lipids are crucial components of cell membranes. They keep the watery contents of the cell separate from the watery environment around it, selectively allowing water and other important substances, like nutrients, oxygen and waste products, to pass in and out as needed.
Hormone manufacture. Adipose (fat) tissue produces numerous hormones, including prostaglandins, which regulate many of the body’s functions, and sex hormones, such as estrogen.
Nervous system structure and development. Structural fat is found in the myelin sheaths of neural cells and is a key component of the synapses, or connections, between them. Myelin speeds the transmission of nerve impulses. Fat is also an important component of the brain—in fact, more than 50% of the dry weight of the brain is fat.
Energy production. The mitochondria of your cells—their “powerhouses”—have the critical function of converting fats into energy so that your body can do its work.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Sleep and Your Weight
How can interrupted sleep affect weight management? Scientists have found that two important appetite-control hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are regulated during our sleep cycles. The hormone ghrelin, produced in the stomach, tells our brain we are hungry. The hormone leptin, manufactured in our fat cells, tells our brain when we've had enough to eat. When sleep is restricted, the hormone ghrelin increases telling us we're still hungry even if we've had enough to eat. The hormone leptin decreases, so it takes longer to get the message when we're full. This imbalance can result in overeating and weight gain.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Atherosclerosis
Obesity and Atherosclerosis : Atherosclerosis is a disease in which hard, fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your arteries. Being obese-defined as having a body mass index over 30--makes it much more likely that you'll develop atherosclerosis.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Obesity & Breast Cancer
Cancer is, for the most part, a preventable disease. Only 5-10% of all cancer cases are caused by genetic defects. The remaining 90-95% are brought about by environmental and lifestyle factors: overweight, lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, overuse of alcohol, and overexposure to UV and other forms of radiation. Of all cancer-related deaths, it’s thought that 25–30% are due to tobacco, 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections. That’s good news, because most lifestyle and environmental factors can be changed or modified. There are even vaccines that can provide protection against certain forms of cancer.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health
Your blood "knows" what you eat, meaning that the cardiovascular system is a sensitive barometer of a person's health, including diet. What individuals eat is reflected in their blood chemistry and the health of their heart, arteries and vessels. Fats (also known as lipids), for example, are vital to health and wellbeing throughout our lives and yet they are mostly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The problem is that not all fats (or cholesterol) are equal. They share basic chemical similarities, but they also have important differences, which, in turn, result in different roles and effects in the body. Tests that offer information on diet and heart health include total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides.
Video by TheVisualMD
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What are Fats?
The risks and benefits associated with dietary fats have long been mired in confusion and misunderstanding. How can these nutrients be at the core of the obesity epidemic and deadly chronic diseases - yet still be absolutely essential to life? The answer is not simple because fats are not all alike, nor is any one type of fat single-faceted. Rather, fats are complex nutrients, worthy of your understanding not only to inspire a healthy diet but so you can appreciate how they energize, build, and fortify your body.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Visceral vs Subcutaneous Fat
Our bodies are conditioned to store fat, in case we have to live through a famine. The fat that is stored in our abdomens, surrounding our organs, is called visceral fat. Because visceral fat can lead to heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, it is much more dangerous than the fat stored beneath our skin, on our hips and limbs. That is why doctors pay attention to your waist-to-hip ration. Apple-shaped people, whose waists are larger than their hip, are prone to more health complications than pear-shaped people.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Weight Gain & Back Pain
Stress can contribute to, or possibly even cause, back pain. People with unmanaged stress may unconsciously tighten their back muscles, and over time this may result in muscle stiffness or spasm. Some researchers think that stress can also cause constriction in the back’s blood vessels that results in lack of oxygen supply to the soft tissues (like muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves), creating tension, spasm, and pain in the area.Poor posture, like hunching over a keyboard or steering wheel for long periods of time, may not cause back pain, but it does increase your risk for back pain if your back has previously been strained or injured. Being overweight, and especially having a big belly, may increase your risk by straining your back. If you are carrying a lot of weight in your abdomen you probably have weak abdominal muscles, and this lack of muscle support can lead to back pain.
Video by TheVisualMD
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TheVisualMD Diet Introduction
You've tried. You've done everything you're supposed to do to lose weight-cut calories, reduce dietary fats, exercise-but nothing has really worked. Whatever fat you've managed to lose has always crept back on (along with some additional poundage).
Video by TheVisualMD
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120 Days of Radical Self-Transformation
In just 4 months you can trim down, gain energy, and get a head start on a lifetime of health and vitality. To reach your goal, you need to know what's making you fat and stealing your vitality - and what to do about it.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Cardiovascular Inflammation
Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. The most common cause of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries that leads to the hardening of arterial walls and the buildup of fatty deposits called plaques, or atheromas. Although the process of inflammation can be beneficial in other parts of the body, chronic inflammation within arterial walls is problematic as it seems to promote this underlying growth of plaque. The combination of arterial inflammation and the growth of plaque can lead to the rupture of the plaque, and result in a blood clot. Blood clots can lead to dangerous conditions such as heart attack or stroke.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis
Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis : In atherosclerosis, hard, fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your arteries. For decades it was thought that eating too many fatty foods, especially foods rich in cholesterol, was to blame for plaque accumulation.
Video by TheVisualMD
4:43
Obesity Epidemic
TheVisualMD
0:40
Childhood Obesity & Heart Disease
TheVisualMD
1:25
Obesity Is Toxic
TheVisualMD
1:54
How Does Obesity Affect Hypertension?
TheVisualMD
0:17
Overweight Boy with Fast Beating Heart
TheVisualMD
0:49
Dr. David Katz on fats crucial role
TheVisualMD
1:02
Sleep and Your Weight
TheVisualMD
2:23
Atherosclerosis
TheVisualMD
0:42
Obesity & Breast Cancer
TheVisualMD
2:46
Lipids, Heart Health and Baselining Your Health
TheVisualMD
0:57
What are Fats?
TheVisualMD
0:41
Visceral vs Subcutaneous Fat
TheVisualMD
0:20
Weight Gain & Back Pain
TheVisualMD
1:07
TheVisualMD Diet Introduction
TheVisualMD
0:36
120 Days of Radical Self-Transformation
TheVisualMD
4:26
Cardiovascular Inflammation
TheVisualMD
2:21
Refined Carbohydrates and Atherosclerosis
TheVisualMD
Overweight and Obesity
Extruded Fat / Coronal View
Extruding Visceral Fat
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Extruded Fat / Coronal View
Extruding Visceral Fat
Visceral fat is a type of body fat that’s stored within the abdominal cavity. It’s located near several vital organs, including the: liver, stomach, intestines. It can also build up in the arteries.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity are increasingly common conditions in the United States. They are caused by the increase in the size and the amount of fat cells in the body. Doctors measure body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference to screen and diagnose overweight and obesity. Obesity is a serious medical condition that can cause complications such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, cancers and sleep disorders. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your condition and whether you have complications. Treatments include lifestyle changes, such as heart-healthy eating and increased physical activity, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved weight-loss medicines. For some people, surgery may be a treatment option.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute / NIH
Additional Materials (47)
What is obesity? - Mia Nacamulli
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
Obesity Treatments | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Obesity: How can we reduce obesity rates? | Cancer Research UK
Video by Cancer Research UK/YouTube
Obesity & Fertility | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Obesity & Pregnancy | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Obesity Risk Factors | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Overweight World - Obesity Facts and Statistics
Video by The Infographics Show/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 2): Sickeningly Sweet
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 3): Hunger and Hormones- A Vicious Cycle
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 4): Sugar - A Sweet Addiction
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 5): Generation XL
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 6): A Fast-Paced Fast Food Life
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 7): Drugs Cigarettes Alcohol...and Sugar?
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Current Management of Obesity
Video by Mechanisms in Medicine/YouTube
The Obesity Epidemic
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Preventing Childhood Obesity – Eating Better, Moving More
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Obesity and IVF: How Weight Affects Women's Fertility
Video by Center for Human Reproduction/YouTube
NGC Special on Obesity-Cushing's Segment
Video by staticnrg9/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Extra): Diet and Lifestyle Tips from UCSF Experts
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
What Is Lap Band Surgery | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Lap Band Surgery vs. Gastric Sleeve | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Weight Loss Surgery FAQs | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Being Overweight vs. Being Obese | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Sleep Disturbances Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Interacting Epidemics
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
Obesity and Pregnancy
Video by Howard County General Hospital/YouTube
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Video by Top Doctors UK/YouTube
Preventing Childhood Obesity
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
Childhood Obesity: Do junk food adverts really influence children? | Cancer Research UK
Video by Cancer Research UK/YouTube
Obesity and cancer: How can extra body fat cause cancer? | Cancer Research UK
Video by Cancer Research UK/YouTube
Prescribing The Right Anti-Obesity Drug for Every Patient
Video by Medscape/YouTube
Obesity, Causes, SIgns and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Video by Medical Centric/YouTube
Obesity: A Deadly Risk | Body Image | Only Human
Video by Only Human/YouTube
Making Obesity Treatment More Personal
Video by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube
Obesity
Video by SciShow/YouTube
Obesity and Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk (Conditions A-Z)
Video by Healthguru/YouTube
Childhood Obesity: The impact of nutrition on health
Video by UEG - United European Gastroenterology/YouTube
Obesity: The little things
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
The Complete Skinny on Obesity
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
Health: Living With: Obesity -- NYTimes.com/Video
Video by The New York Times/YouTube
Healthy U Program Aims to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Video by NJ Spotlight News/YouTube
The Skinny on Childhood Obesity
Video by Knob-O/YouTube
Children: Obesity and Nutrition
Video by Health Science Channel/YouTube
Childhood obesity 10 times higher than 1970s
Video by CBS News/YouTube
Childhood obesity: Eat well, play well
Video by Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
Breaking Down Brown Fat - Treatment for Obesity & Diabetes
Video by Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
5:11
What is obesity? - Mia Nacamulli
TED-Ed/YouTube
1:36
Obesity Treatments | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
1:00
Obesity: How can we reduce obesity rates? | Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK/YouTube
1:24
Obesity & Fertility | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
1:32
Obesity & Pregnancy | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
1:48
Obesity Risk Factors | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
2:20
Overweight World - Obesity Facts and Statistics
The Infographics Show/YouTube
12:16
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
UCTVTips/YouTube
9:03
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 2): Sickeningly Sweet
UCTVTips/YouTube
8:04
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 3): Hunger and Hormones- A Vicious Cycle
UCTVTips/YouTube
7:14
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 4): Sugar - A Sweet Addiction
UCTVTips/YouTube
6:58
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 5): Generation XL
UCTVTips/YouTube
7:22
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 6): A Fast-Paced Fast Food Life
UCTVTips/YouTube
8:36
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 7): Drugs Cigarettes Alcohol...and Sugar?
UCTVTips/YouTube
2:08
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:06
Current Management of Obesity
Mechanisms in Medicine/YouTube
7:13
The Obesity Epidemic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
59:58
Preventing Childhood Obesity – Eating Better, Moving More
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
8:54
Obesity and IVF: How Weight Affects Women's Fertility
Center for Human Reproduction/YouTube
6:05
NGC Special on Obesity-Cushing's Segment
staticnrg9/YouTube
3:41
The Skinny on Obesity (Extra): Diet and Lifestyle Tips from UCSF Experts
UCTVTips/YouTube
1:37
What Is Lap Band Surgery | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
2:09
Lap Band Surgery vs. Gastric Sleeve | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
2:28
Weight Loss Surgery FAQs | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
1:16
Being Overweight vs. Being Obese | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
49:31
Sleep Disturbances Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Interacting Epidemics
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
4:46
Obesity and Pregnancy
Howard County General Hospital/YouTube
7:05
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Top Doctors UK/YouTube
1:39
Preventing Childhood Obesity
Lee Health/YouTube
1:08
Childhood Obesity: Do junk food adverts really influence children? | Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK/YouTube
1:08
Obesity and cancer: How can extra body fat cause cancer? | Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK/YouTube
39:22
Prescribing The Right Anti-Obesity Drug for Every Patient
Medscape/YouTube
5:38
Obesity, Causes, SIgns and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Medical Centric/YouTube
48:58
Obesity: A Deadly Risk | Body Image | Only Human
Only Human/YouTube
1:17
Making Obesity Treatment More Personal
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube
11:59
Obesity
SciShow/YouTube
1:22
Obesity and Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk (Conditions A-Z)
Healthguru/YouTube
2:00
Childhood Obesity: The impact of nutrition on health
UEG - United European Gastroenterology/YouTube
1:14
Obesity: The little things
NHLBI/YouTube
58:29
The Complete Skinny on Obesity
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
5:55
Health: Living With: Obesity -- NYTimes.com/Video
The New York Times/YouTube
3:29
Healthy U Program Aims to Reduce Childhood Obesity
NJ Spotlight News/YouTube
3:48
The Skinny on Childhood Obesity
Knob-O/YouTube
5:02
Children: Obesity and Nutrition
Health Science Channel/YouTube
1:27
Childhood obesity 10 times higher than 1970s
CBS News/YouTube
5:09
Childhood obesity: Eat well, play well
Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
6:50
Breaking Down Brown Fat - Treatment for Obesity & Diabetes
Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Image by TheVisualMD
Risk Factors
Certain risk factors increase your chances of becoming obese. Some you can change, and some you can’t.Risk factors you can’t modify include:Genetics. Your genes can affect how much body fat you store and where you store it, as well as how efficiently your body converts food into energy and how efficiently you burn calorie during exercise. Studies of adopted children have shown that they tend to put on weight in a way that’s more similar to their biological parents than their adoptive parents. But genes are just part of the problem. Obesity rates have taken off in just the last few decades—far too short a period of time for the human gene pool to have altered significantly!
Age. As we age we tend to become less active. Muscle mass tends to decrease with age, and hormonal changes encourage the accumulation of fat. Lower muscle mass also leads to a decrease in metabolism. If you don’t decrease your caloric intake as you get older, you’ll probably put on weight.
Image by TheVisualMD
Who Is at Risk for Overweight and Obesity?
There are many risk factors for overweight and obesity. Some risk factors can be changed, such as unhealthy lifestyle habits and environments. Other risk factors, such as age, family history and genetics, race and ethnicity, and sex, cannot be changed. Heathy lifestyle changes can decrease your risk for developing overweight and obesity.
Unhealthy lifestyle habits
Lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, not enough sleep, and high amounts of stress can increase your risk for overweight and obesity.
Lack of physical activity
Lack of physical activity due to high amounts of TV, computer, videogame or other screen usage has been associated with a high body mass index. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as being physically active and reducing screen time, can help you aim for a healthy weight.
Unhealthy eating behaviors
Some unhealthy eating behaviors can increase your risk for overweight and obesity.
Eating more calories than you use. The amount of calories you need will vary based on your sex, age, and physical activity level.
Eating too much saturated and trans fats
Eating foods high in added sugars
Not enough sleep
Many studies have seen a high BMI in people who do not get enough sleep. Some studies have seen a relationship between sleep and the way our bodies use nutrients for energy and how lack of sleep can affect hormones that control hunger urges.
High amounts of stress
Acute stress and chronic stress affect the brain and trigger the production of hormones, such as cortisol, that control our energy balances and hunger urges. Acute stress can trigger hormone changes that make you not want to eat. If the stress becomes chronic, hormone changes can make you eat more and store more fat.
Age
Childhood obesity remains a serious problem in the United States, and some populations are more at risk for childhood obesity than others. The risk of unhealthy weight gain increases as you age. Adults who have a healthy BMI often start to gain weight in young adulthood and continue to gain weight until 60 to 65 years old, when they tend to start losing weight.
Unhealthy environments
Many environmental factors can increase your risk for overweight and obesity:
social factors such as having a low socioeconomic status or an unhealthy social or unsafe environment in the neighborhood
built environment factors such as easy access to unhealthy fast foods, limited access to recreational facilities or parks, and few safe or easy ways to walk in your neighborhood
exposure to chemicals known as obesogens that can change hormones and increase fatty tissue in our bodies
Family history and genetics
Genetic studies have found that overweight and obesity can run in families, so it is possible that our genes or DNA can cause these conditions. Research studies have found that certain DNA elements are associated with obesity.
Did you know obesity can change your DNA and the DNA you pass on to your children?
Race or ethnicity
Overweight and obesity is highly prevalent in some racial and ethnic minority groups. Rates of obesity in American adults are highest in blacks, followed by Hispanics, then whites. This is true for men or women. While Asian men and women have the lowest rates of unhealthy BMIs, they may have high amounts of unhealthy fat in the abdomen. Samoans may be at risk for overweight and obesity because they may carry a DNA variant that is associated with increased BMI but not with common obesity-related complications.
Sex
In the United States, obesity is more common in black or Hispanic women than in black or Hispanic men. A person’s sex may also affect the way the body stores fat. For example, women tend to store less unhealthy fat in the abdomen than men do.
Overweight and obesity is also common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is an endocrine condition that causes large ovaries and prevents proper ovulation, which can reduce fertility.
Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute / NIH
Additional Materials (3)
Obesity Risk Factors | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Overweight World - Obesity Facts and Statistics
Video by The Infographics Show/YouTube
A Global Epidemic
Childhood obesity is an epidemic around the globe. In the US, an estimated 17% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. In the last three decades, the percentage of obese children doubled in children ages 2-5 and tripled in children and adolescents ages 6-19. Up to 80% of obese youth become obese adults, who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in North America. In the European Union, about 30% of all children are overweight, and over 5 million of them are obese. Some 300,000 children in the EU become obese each year. But obesity is no longer a problem that affects only children in the developed world. The easy availability of cheap, high-calorie, low-nutrition food, along with less-active lifestyles, have made childhood obesity a major health issue in countries all over the world, including China, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and many others. Globally, about 10% of all children ages 5-17 are overweight, and 2-3% in that age group are obese, according to the International Obesity Task Force. Obese kids are more likely to be depressed and have low self-esteem, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and even type 2 diabetes. If your child has a weight problem, you have reason to be concerned. But there are many ways you can help. With your support, your child can get healthy—and stay healthy.
Image by TheVisualMD
1:48
Obesity Risk Factors | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
2:20
Overweight World - Obesity Facts and Statistics
The Infographics Show/YouTube
A Global Epidemic
TheVisualMD
Causes
Why We Become Fat
Image by TheVisualMD
Why We Become Fat
Image by TheVisualMD
What Causes Overweight and Obesity?
Energy imbalances, some genetic or endocrine medical conditions, and certain medicines are known to cause overweight or obesity.
Energy imbalances cause the body to store fat
Energy imbalances can cause overweight and obesity. An energy imbalance means that your energy IN does not equal your energy OUT. This energy is measured in calories. Energy IN is the amount of calories you get from food and drinks. Energy OUT is the amount of calories that your body uses for things such as breathing, digesting, being physically active, and regulating body temperature.
Overweight and obesity develop over time when you take in more calories than you use, or when energy IN is more than your energy OUT. This type of energy imbalance causes your body to store fat.
Your body uses certain nutrients such as carbohydrates or sugars, proteins, and fats from the foods you eat to:
make energy for immediate use to power routine daily body functions and physical activity.
store energy for future use by your body. Sugars are stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Fats are stored mainly as triglyceride in fat tissue.
The amount of energy that your body gets from the food you eat depends on the type of foods you eat, how the food is prepared, and how long it has been since you last ate.
The body has three types of fat tissue—white, brown, and beige—that it uses to fuel itself, regulate its temperature in response to cold, and store energy for future use. Learn about the role of each fat type in maintaining energy balance in the body.
White fat tissue can be found around the kidneys and under the skin in the buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. This fat type stores energy, makes hormone that control the way the body regulates urges to eat or stop eating, and makes inflammatory substances that can lead to complications.
Brown fat tissue is located in the upper back area of human infants. This fat type releases stored energy as heat energy when a baby is cold. It also can make inflammatory substances. Brown fat can be seen in children and adults.
Beige fat tissue is seen in the neck, shoulders, back, chest and abdomen of adults and resembles brown fat tissue. This fat type, which uses carbohydrates and fats to produce heat, increases when children and adults are exposed to cold.
Medical conditions
Some genetic syndromes and endocrine disorders can cause overweight or obesity.
Genetic syndromes
Several genetic syndromes are associated with overweight and obesity, including the following.
Prader-Willi syndrome
Bardet-Biedl syndrome
Alström syndrome
Cohen syndrome
The study of these genetic syndromes has helped researchers understand obesity.
Endocrine disorders
Because the endocrine system produces hormones that help maintain energy balances in the body, the following endocrine disorders or tumors affecting the endocrine system can cause overweight and obesity.
Hypothyroidism. People with this condition have low levels of thyroid hormones. These low levels are associated with decreased metabolism and weight gain, even when food intake is reduced. People with hypothyroidism also produce less body heat, have a lower body temperature, and do not efficiently use stored fat for energy.
Cushing’s syndrome. People with this condition have high levels of glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, in the blood. High cortisol levels make the body feel like it is under chronic stress. As a result, people have an increase in appetite and the body will store more fat. Cushing’s syndrome may develop after taking certain medicines or because the body naturally makes too much cortisol.
Tumors. Some tumors, such as craneopharingioma, can cause severe obesity because the tumors develop near parts of the brain that control hunger.
Medicines
Medicines such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, and antihyperglycemics can cause weight gain and lead to overweight and obesity.
Talk to your doctor if you notice weight gain while you are using one of these medicines. Ask if there are other forms of the same medicine or other medicines that can treat your medical condition, but have less of an effect on your weight. Do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor.
Several parts of your body, such as your stomach, intestines, pancreas, and fat tissue, use hormones to control how your brain decides if you are hungry or full. Some of these hormones are insulin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), peptide YY, and ghrelin.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute / NIH
Additional Materials (4)
The Obesity Epidemic
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
High Carb - Stored as Fat
Low Carb - Burned for Fuel
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Burn It or Save It? What Happens to Energy from Food
Like any machine, your body requires energy to run. But food is not like electricity. It can't be used to power you directly. Food ingredients must be broken down so that fuel can be extracted, stored, and used as energy.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Fast Food Portions Growth the Last 50 years
The field of diet and nutrition is a highly contentious one. Prominent doctors and nutritionists have very different ideas about what we should-and shouldn't-be eating and what's to blame for our overweight woes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Causes of Childhood Obesity
In the last three decades, obesity has doubled in children aged 2-5 and 12-19 and tripled in children aged 6-11. While genetics may well play a part in 25-85% of cases, heredity alone can't account for this sudden epidemic of obesity. The more likely scenario is that, over time, most humans evolved genes that helped us cope with times when food was scarce. But these genes are unsuited to the world we now live in, where high-calorie food is quickly and cheaply available.
Image by TheVisualMD
7:13
The Obesity Epidemic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Burn It or Save It? What Happens to Energy from Food
TheVisualMD
Fast Food Portions Growth the Last 50 years
TheVisualMD
Causes of Childhood Obesity
TheVisualMD
Genetics
Region 16q12.2 (highlighted above) is the obesity gene's location on chromosome 16
Image by TheVisualMD
Region 16q12.2 (highlighted above) is the obesity gene's location on chromosome 16
The FTO gene is widely expressed or "turned on" in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain which controls our appetite, and in the pancreatic islets where insulin is produced.
Image by TheVisualMD
Behavior, Environment, and Genetic Factors All Have a Role in Causing People to Be Overweight and Obese
Obesity results from the energy imbalance that occurs when a person consumes more calories than their body burns. Obesity is a serious public health problem because it is associated with some of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Do Genes Have a Role in Obesity?
In recent decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in populations whose environments promote physical inactivity and increased consumption of high-calorie foods. However, not all people living in such environments will become obese, nor will all obese people have the same body fat distribution or suffer the same health problems. These differences can be seen in groups of people with the same racial or ethnic background and even within families. Genetic changes in human populations occur too slowly to be responsible for the obesity epidemic. Nevertheless, the variation in how people respond to the same environment suggests that genes do play a role in the development of obesity.
How Could Genes Influence Obesity?
Genes give the body instructions for responding to changes in its environment. Studies of resemblances and differences among family members, twins, and adoptees offer indirect scientific evidence that a sizable portion of the variation in weight among adults is due to genetic factors. Other studies have compared obese and non-obese people for variation in genes that could influence behaviors (such as a drive to overeat, or a tendency to be sedentary) or metabolism (such as a diminished capacity to use dietary fats as fuel, or an increased tendency to store body fat). These studies have identified variants in several genes that may contribute to obesity by increasing hunger and food intake.
Rarely, a clear pattern of inherited obesity within a family is caused by a specific variant of a single gene (monogenic obesity). Most obesity, however, probably results from complex interactions among multiple genes and environmental factors that remain poorly understood (multifactorial obesity).
Any explanation of the obesity epidemic has to consider both genetics and the environment. One explanation that is often cited is the mismatch between today’s environment and “energy-thrifty genes” that multiplied in the distant past, when food sources were unpredictable. In other words, according to the “thrifty genotype” hypothesis, the same genes that helped our ancestors survive occasional famines are now being challenged by environments in which food is plentiful year round. Other hypotheses have been proposed including a role for the gut microbiome as well as early life exposures associated with epigenetic changes.
Can Public Health Genomics Help?
With the exception of rare genetic conditions associated with extreme obesity, currently, genetic tests are not useful for guiding personal diet or physical activity plans. Research on genetic variation that affects response to changes in diet and physical activity is still at an early stage. Doing a better job of explaining obesity in terms of genes and environment factors could help encourage people who are trying to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
What about Family History?
Health care practitioners routinely collect family health history to help identify people at high risk of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some forms of cancer. Family health history reflects the effects of shared genetics and environment among close relatives. Families can’t change their genes but they can change the family environment to encourage healthy eating habits and physical activity. Those changes can improve the health of family members—and improve the family health history of the next generation.
How Can You Tell If You or Your Family Members Are Overweight?
Most health care practitioners use the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether a person is overweight. Check your Body Mass Index with a BMI calculator.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
FTO Genetic Test
FTO Genetic Test
Also called: Fat mass and obesity-associated gene, FTO gene mutations
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is called the “fat gene” because it has been significantly associated with a higher risk of being overweight or obese. This gene causes people to eat more and feel less satisfied than an average person. This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to look for mutations (changes) in the FTO gene.
FTO Genetic Test
Also called: Fat mass and obesity-associated gene, FTO gene mutations
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is called the “fat gene” because it has been significantly associated with a higher risk of being overweight or obese. This gene causes people to eat more and feel less satisfied than an average person. This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to look for mutations (changes) in the FTO gene.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
A negative result means no FTO gene mutations were found. You have the same obesity risk as everyone else.
Related conditions
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is among the strongest known genetic risk factors for obesity.
Although environmental factors, such as little physical activity and over-eating, are the main factors for people to become overweight or obese, genetic factors account for approximately 40–90% of the variation in the body mass index of the population.
The exact mechanism of how this gene relates to obesity remains unclear; however, it is believed that the FTO gene is involved in controlling feeding behavior and energy expenditure.
There are five obesity-related mutations, also called variants orpolymorphisms, of the FTO gene that have been well researched so far, they are called rs9939609, rs1421085, rs8050136, rs17817449, and rs1121980. All these variants are usually inherited together because they are located in the same DNA block.
This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to determine if mutations (changes) are present in the FTO gene.
Your doctor may want to order this test to know if you have an increased risk of being overweight or obese; this way timely measures can be taken, especially when it comes to modifying high-risk behaviors such as sedentarism and unhealthy eating habits.
People with FTO gene mutations tend to have increased food intake, especially of high-energy foods, as well as impaired satiety.
A small amount of blood will be drawn of a vein in your arm by using a needle, or a saliva sample will be collected by rubbing a swab against your gums.
No fasting or other preparations are needed.
The risks are related only to the blood extraction procedure, including a little bleeding, temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, or local infection.
There are no known risks when the test is performed in saliva.
Every person can inherit one or two abnormal copies of the gene, one from each parent.
People who have one abnormal copy of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.3-fold increased risk of obesity and weigh about 4.5 lbs (2 kg) more, on average, than people who do not have it.
People who have two abnormal copies of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.7-fold increased risk of obesity and weigh about 9 lbs (4 kg) more, on average, than people who do not have it.
Other types of mutations in the FTO gene have been related to several congenital (born with it) problems during childhood, including growth retardation, microcephaly (abnormally small head), severe psychomotor delay, impaired brain functionality, abnormal facial features, and early death.
Genetics Home Reference. FTO gene. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Fawcett KA, Barroso I. The genetics of obesity: FTO leads the way. Trends in Genetics. 2010;26(6):266-274. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2010.02.006. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Frayling TM, Timpson NJ, Weedon MN, et al. A Common Variant in the FTO Gene Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Predisposes to Childhood and Adult Obesity. Science (New York, NY). 2007;316(5826):889-894. doi:10.1126/science.1141634. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Medscape. Obesity, FTO, and Type 2 Diabetes: Overview, Function of FTO, Clinical Implications and Genetic Testing. Author: Ali Torkamani, PhD; Chief Editor: Keith K Vaux, MD. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=FTO [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Peng S, Zhu Y, Xu F, Ren X, Li X, Lai M. FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk: a meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. 2011;9:71. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-71. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Yi-Cheng Chang, Pi-Hua Liu, Wei-Jei Lee, Tien-Jyun Chang, Yi-Der Jiang, Hung-YuanLi, Shan-Shan Kuo, Kuang-Chin Lee, Lee-Ming Chuang. Common Variation in the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) Gene Confers Risk of Obesity and Modulates BMI in the Chinese Population. Diabetes Aug 2008, 57 (8) 2245-2252; DOI: 10.2337/db08-0377. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Lima RPA, Hayashi DN, Lima KQDF, Gomes NIG, Ribeiro MR, et al. (2017) The Role of Epigenetics in the Etiology of Obesity: A Review. J Clin Epigenet. 3:41 doi: 10.21767/2472-1158.100075 [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Loos RJF, Yeo GSH. The bigger picture of FTO – the first GWAS-identified obesity gene. Nature reviews Endocrinology. 2014;10(1):51-61. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2013.227. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Weight Loss Genetics – FTO variants – Genetic Lifehacks [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
rs9939609 - SNPedia [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
rs1421085 - SNPedia [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
rs1121980 - SNPedia [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
rs17817449 - SNPedia [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
rs8050136 - SNPedia [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Symptoms
Before - Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss / After - Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss
Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Before - Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss / After - Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss
Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss
Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss
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Signs, Symptoms, and Complications of Overweight and Obesity
There are no specific symptoms of overweight and obesity. The signs of overweight and obesity include a high body mass index (BMI) and an unhealthy body fat distribution that can be estimated by measuring your waist circumference. Obesity can cause complications in many parts of your body.
High body mass index (BMI)
A high BMI is the most common sign of overweight and obesity.
Body mass index (BMI) is used to determine if you or your child are underweight, healthy, or overweight or obese. Children are underweight if their BMI is below the 5th percentile, healthy weight if their BMI is between the 5th to less than the 85th percentile, overweight if their BMI is the 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile, and obese if their BMI is the 95th percentile or above. Adults are underweight if their BMI is below 18.5, healthy weight if their BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, overweight if their BMI is 25 to 29.9, and obese if their BMI is 30 or above. *A child’s BMI percentile is calculated by comparing your child’s BMI to growth charts for children who are the same age and sex as your child.
Unhealthy body fat distribution
Another sign of overweight and obesity is having an unhealthy body fat distribution. Fatty tissue is found in different parts of your body and has many functions. Having an increased waist circumference suggests that you have increased amounts of fat in your abdomen. An increased waist circumference is a sign of obesity and can increase your risk for obesity-related complications.
Did you know that fatty tissue has different functions depending on its location in your body?
Visceral fat is the fatty tissue inside of your abdomen and organs. While we do not know what causes the body to create and store visceral fat, it is known that this type of fat interferes with the body’s endocrine and immune systems and promotes chronic inflammation and contributes to obesity-related complications.
Complications
Obesity may cause the following complications:
Metabolic Syndrome
Type 2 diabetes
High blood cholesterol and high triglycerideexternal link levels in the blood
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and stroke
Respiratory problems such as obstructive sleep apnea , asthma, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Back pain
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Osteoarthritis, a chronic inflammation that damages the cartilage and bone in or around the affected joint. It can cause mild or severe pain and usually affects weight-bearing joints in people who are obese. It is a major cause of knee replacement surgery in patients who are obese for a long time.
Urinary incontinence, the unintentional leakage of urine. Chronic obesity can weaken pelvic muscles, making it harder to maintain bladder control. While it can happen to both sexes, it usually affects women as they age.
Gallbladder disease
Emotional health issues such as low self-esteem or depression. This may commonly occur in children.
Cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, colon, rectum, kidney, endometrium, ovaries, gallbladder, breast, or liver.
Did you know inflammation is thought to play a role in the onset of certain obesity-related complications?
Researchers now know more about visceral fat, which is deep in the abdomen of overweight and obese patients. Visceral fat releases factors that promote inflammation. Chronic obesity-related inflammation is thought to lead to insulin resistance and diabetes, changes in the liver or non-alcoholic fatty acid liver disease, and cancers. More research is needed to understand what triggers inflammation in some obese patients and to find new treatments.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute / NIH
Additional Materials (2)
The Weight of the Nation: Part 2 - Choices (HBO Docs)
Video by HBODocs/YouTube
Obese man with visible Anatomy Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Cardiovascular System Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Pancreas Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Brain Eating a Cookie
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Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension effect every system and cell in your body
An obese man in a black t-shirt is shown eating a cookie. Some of his anatomy is faintly visible, including his brain, cardiovascular system, pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue. The image introduces a series of facts on the damaging effects of eating too much sugar.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
1:12:54
The Weight of the Nation: Part 2 - Choices (HBO Docs)
HBODocs/YouTube
Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension effect every system and cell in your body
TheVisualMD
Health Risks
Obesity & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Obesity & Cancer
Obesity & Infertility/Sexual Dysfunction
Obesity & Back Pain
Obesity & Osteoarthitis
Obesity & Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obesity & Depression
Obesity & Alzheimer's Disease
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Obesity's Associated Conditions
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Obesity & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Obesity & Cancer
Obesity & Infertility/Sexual Dysfunction
Obesity & Back Pain
Obesity & Osteoarthitis
Obesity & Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obesity & Depression
Obesity & Alzheimer's Disease
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Obesity's Associated Conditions
Obesity can be a causal factor in other conditions.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems and may be linked to certain emotional and social problems.
What are some health risks of overweight and obesity?
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. About 8 out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.8 Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage, and other health problems.
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and getting regular physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which blood flows through your blood vessels with a force greater than normal. High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death.
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems such as high blood pressure.
Heart disease
Heart disease is a term used to describe several problems that may affect your heart. If you have heart disease, you may have a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, or an abnormal heart rhythm. High blood pressure, abnormal levels of blood fats, and high blood glucose levels may raise your risk for heart disease. Blood fats, also called blood lipids, include HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may lower your risk factors for developing heart disease. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 10 pounds. Weight loss may improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood flow.
Stroke
Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to your brain is suddenly cut off, caused by a blockage or the bursting of a blood vessel in your brain or neck. A stroke can damage brain tissue and make you unable to speak or move parts of your body. High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you do not breathe regularly while sleeping. You may stop breathing altogether for short periods of time. Untreated sleep apnea may raise your risk of other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. These conditions are
high blood pressure
high blood glucose levels
high triglyceride levels in your blood
low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) in your blood
too much fat around your waist
Fatty liver diseases
Fatty liver diseases are conditions in which fat builds up in your liver. Fatty liver diseases include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Fatty liver diseases may lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common, long-lasting health problem that causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. Being overweight or having obesity may raise your risk of getting osteoarthritis by putting extra pressure on your joints and cartilage.
Gallbladder diseases
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis. Imbalances in substances that make up bile cause gallstones. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol.
Some cancers
Cancer is a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Kidney disease
Kidney disease means that your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood like they should. Obesity raises the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, the most common causes of kidney disease. Even if you don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity itself may promote kidney disease and quicken its progress.
Pregnancy problems
Overweight and obesity raise the risk of health problems that may occur during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have a greater chance of
developing gestational diabetes
having preeclampsia—high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can cause severe health problems for mother and baby if left untreated
needing a cesarean section, or C-section and, as a result, taking longer to recover after giving birth
What emotional and social problems are linked to overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are associated with mental health problems such as depression. People who deal with overweight and obesity may also be the subject of weight bias and stigma from others, including health care providers. This can lead to feelings of rejection, shame, or guilt—further worsening mental health problems.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (10)
Health Problems Caused by Obesity | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Video by Top Doctors UK/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
The Complete Skinny on Obesity
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
Obesity and IVF: How Weight Affects Women's Fertility
Video by Center for Human Reproduction/YouTube
Obesity & Pregnancy | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
Normal Lung and Airway / Lung and Airway of Obese Man
Obesity and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, causes sufferers to wake up over and over throughout the night. The condition is also related to obesity.
Obesity is the most powerful risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). About 70% of people with OSA are obese—that is, they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
What’s more, roughly 40% of obese adults have OSA. Every 22-lb increase in body weight doubles your risk of OSA. Every increase in BMI by 6 quadruples your risk. And no fewer than 98% of people who are severely obese have at least mild OSA.
But there’s good news: when you lose weight, the chances are excellent that sleep apnea symptoms will disappear.
See the physical differences in your airways when you gain weight.
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Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
Coronary Artery Disease
Plaque Buildup
Stroke
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Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
Too much fat in the body damages your blood vessels. About three quarters of obese people die of cardiovascular disease.
Visceral Fat of a thin person / Visceral fat of a obese person
Visceral Fat of a thin person / Visceral fat of a obese person
1) Visceral Fat of a thin person
1) Visceral fat of a obese person
Interactive by TheVisualMD
1:50
Health Problems Caused by Obesity | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
7:05
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Top Doctors UK/YouTube
12:16
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
UCTVTips/YouTube
58:29
The Complete Skinny on Obesity
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
8:54
Obesity and IVF: How Weight Affects Women's Fertility
Center for Human Reproduction/YouTube
1:32
Obesity & Pregnancy | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
Obesity and Sleep Apnea
TheVisualMD
Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
TheVisualMD
Obesity vs Pregnancy Compressed Organs
TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat of a thin person / Visceral fat of a obese person
TheVisualMD
Screening
Overweight / Normal Weight
Weight Loss (Men vs Women)
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Overweight / Normal Weight
Weight Loss (Men vs Women)
On average, women have seven to 10 percent more body fat than men, and correspondingly less muscle mass. Minimum ("essential") body fat percentages are about 12 percent for women, and four percent for men. This difference in body composition means that men typically have higher metabolic rates and will usually need more calories (about 300 more per day) than women of comparable weights, because muscle burns more calories than fat.
Men tend to be apple shaped, storing more body fat in the upper body (known as "central" fat) and within the body cavity, which is called "visceral" fat. Women tend to be pear shaped, storing more fat in the hips and thighs (known as "peripheral" fat), and beneath the layer of skin, which is called "subcutaneous" fat. This explains why women also tend to have visible cellulite more often than men.
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Overweight and Obesity Screening
Children and adults should be screened at least annually to see if they have a high or increasing body mass index (BMI), which allows doctors to recommend healthy lifestyle changes to prevent overweight and obesity.
Screening for a high or increasing body mass index (BMI)
To screen for overweight and obesity, doctors measure BMI using calculations that depend on whether you are a child or an adult. After reading the information below, talk to your doctor or your child’s doctor to determine if you or your child has a high or increasing BMI.
Children: A healthy weight is usually when your child’s BMI is at the 5th percentile up to the 85th percentile, based on growth charts for children who are the same age and sex.
Adults: A healthy weight for adults is usually when your BMI is 18.5 to less than 25.
Body mass index (BMI) is used to determine if you or your child are underweight, healthy, or overweight or obese. Children are underweight if their BMI is below the 5th percentile, healthy weight if their BMI is between the 5th to less than the 85th percentile, overweight if their BMI is the 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile, and obese if their BMI is the 95th percentile or above. Adults are underweight if their BMI is below 18.5, healthy weight if their BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, overweight if their BMI is 25 to 29.9, and obese if their BMI is 30 or above. *A child’s BMI percentile is calculated by comparing your child’s BMI to growth charts for children who are the same age and sex as your child.
Healthy lifestyle changes to prevent overweight and obesity
If your BMI indicates you are getting close to being overweight, or if you have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend you adopt healthy lifestyle changes to prevent you from becoming overweight and obese. Changes include healthy eating, being physically active, aiming for a healthy weight, and getting healthy amounts of sleep.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Additional Materials (3)
Healthy Foods and Obesity Prevention (HBO: The Weight of the Nation)
Video by HBODocs/YouTube
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Video by Top Doctors UK/YouTube
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
Video by KidandParent/YouTube
31:12
Healthy Foods and Obesity Prevention (HBO: The Weight of the Nation)
HBODocs/YouTube
7:05
The effects of obesity and how to lose weight
Top Doctors UK/YouTube
1:05
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
KidandParent/YouTube
Screening Tests
Obesity Screening
Obesity screening checks whether extra body fat increases your risk for serious health problems. It uses your BMI (body mass index) to estimate body fat. Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Obesity Screening
Obesity screening checks whether extra body fat increases your risk for serious health problems. It uses your BMI (body mass index) to estimate body fat. Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Obesity screenings check for obesity and overweight in adults and children, starting as early as age 2. In general, having obesity and being overweight both mean that your weight is higher than what is considered healthy for your height:
Obesity means that you have too much body fat.
Overweight usually means that you have too much body fat. But the extra weight may come from muscle, bone, and/or holding too much water in your body.
Extra fat from obesity and overweight increases your risk of developing serious, long-lasting health problems, such as:
Heart and blood vessel diseases, including heart attack and stroke
High blood cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Arthritis
Certain types of cancer
The more fat you have, the higher your risk of developing these problems. Children who have obesity may develop many of the same health problems as adults with obesity. They are also more likely to have obesity in adulthood and develop serious health problems later in life.
Obesity screening helps find out if too much body fat could be a health concern for you. Measuring body fat is difficult and expensive. So, obesity screening estimates how much body fat you have. The estimate is made with a calculation called a BMI (body mass index).
BMI for adults ages 20 and older is calculated from height and weight information. The result is a number called a BMI score. Higher BMI scores are linked to larger amounts of body fat and a higher risk for certain health problems. For most adults:
A healthy weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
Overweight is a BMI between 25 and 29.9
Obesity is a BMI of 30 and above
BMI for children over age 2 and teens is also based on weight and height. But age and sex are part of figuring out if a child or teen has too much body fat. That's because the normal amount of body fat is different at each stage of growth. And the normal amount of fat is different for boys and girls.
To adjust for these differences, your child's BMI is compared to standard growth charts for children of their age and sex. The result is called a BMI percentile. For example, if your child's BMI is in the 25th percentile, it means that 25% percent of children the same age and sex have a lower BMI, and 75% percent have a higher BMI.
Because height and weight changes with growth, your child's BMI will be tracked over time to understand if obesity or overweight may be a health problem. For most children and teens:
A healthy weight is a BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile.
Overweight is a BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile.
Obesity is a BMI in the 95th percentile or higher.
A BMI is a fairly accurate way to screen most people for too much body fat, but it's not perfect. Your BMI can't tell if your weight is from extra fat or muscle. This means a very muscular person could have a BMI in the overweight range even though they don't have too much body fat.
Also, some people who have a healthy BMI may still have high amounts of body fat. This may be more common in groups that tend to have lower BMI scores, such as Asians and older adults who have lost muscle. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about how accurate a BMI is for your body type.
An obesity screening with a BMI is used to find out if an adult or a child has an unhealthy body weight for their height. This helps a provider understand a person's risk for diseases that are linked to extra body fat. But obesity screening doesn't show the amount of fat a person has, and it can't diagnose any health conditions, so other tests may be needed.
A BMI may also be used to find out if weight-loss efforts are working.
Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Yearly obesity screening tracks your BMI over time. If it gets higher, it usually means you're gaining extra fat. Even if your higher BMI stays in the healthy range, weight gain from fat can still increase your risk for weight-related diseases. Obesity screening can help catch weight gain early so you can take steps to control your weight before it harms your health.
If you already have obesity or are overweight, screening helps your provider monitor your risk for health problems related to body fat. Information about your risk level helps you and your provider consider the pros and cons of different weight-loss treatments.
An obesity screening is usually part of a routine checkup that includes a physical exam. Your provider will measure your height and weight. That information is usually entered into an online BMI calculator. If you know your height and weight, you can find your BMI online:
Use this BMI calculator for adults.
Use this BMI percentile calculator for children and teens.
Your provider may also use other tests to estimate how much body fat you have. These include:
A waist measurement. Adults who have too much fat around their abdomen (belly) have an increased risk of developing conditions related to obesity. Even if you have a healthy BMI, your risk may be high if your waist size is:
More than 40 inches for men
More than 35 inches for women who aren't pregnant
Skinfold measurements. A skinfold test measures the thickness of pinch of skin and fat at several places on your body. A special tool gently measures skinfolds on your belly, back, thigh, the back of your upper arm, and/or other places on your body. The results are used to estimate how much of your body is fat.
If your obesity screening shows that you may have too much body fat, your provider may ask questions to help find out why. This often includes discussing your:
Medical history and medicines you take. Some health conditions cause people to gain weight, such as metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome (in females only). Your provider may order blood tests to confirm or rule out these and other conditions.
Many medicines can cause weight gain, too. Examples include:
Certain antidepressants
Beta-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure
Steroids, which are often used to treat autoimmune disease
Certain diabetes medicines
Eating habits. Obesity and overweight develop over time when you take in more calories than you use. So, your provider will want to know how much you eat and drink. What you eat and drink matters, too. Too much saturated fat and sugar can cause weight gain.
Physical activity. A lack of physical activity is linked with weight gain. Your provider will want to know how much exercise you get and how much time you spend sitting.
Sleep habits. Not getting enough sleep or poor-quality sleep can make you more likely to overeat. That's because sleep affects hormones that control hunger.
Stress levels. Stress can affect your brain and trigger changes in your hormones that make you eat more and store more fat.
Family history. You're more likely to become obese if close family members have obesity. You may have inherited genes that affect weight. The eating and exercise habits of the people around you can affect your habits and weight, too.
You don't need to prepare for an obesity screening. If you're also having certain blood tests to learn more about your health, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for a period of time. Your provider will let you know how to prepare.
There is no risk to having a BMI or a measurement of your waist or skinfolds.
If an obesity screening shows that you have obesity or are overweight, your provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The goal of the plan is to reduce your risk of health problems linked to extra body fat.
Your plan will depend on how much weight you need to lose and the cause of your weight gain. Most plans are likely to include lifestyle changes, such as:
Eating a healthier, lower calorie diet
Getting more exercise
Getting enough good-quality sleep
Depending on your BMI and health, you provider may also suggest:
Support from a dietary or nutritional counselor
A behavioral weight-loss treatment program
Prescription weight-loss medicines combined with lifestyle changes
Weight loss surgery or devices, such as balloons, that are put in the stomach to help you lose weight
If you have questions about obesity screening or treatments to lower your BMI, talk with your provider.
Obesity Screening: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jul 05, 2023]
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index
Also called: BMI, Quetelet Index
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
Body Mass Index
Also called: BMI, Quetelet Index
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
kg/(m<sup>2</sup>)
18.5
25
30
35
40
Your result is Healthy.
A BMI of 18 - 25 indicates that you are at a healthy weight for your height. By maintaining a healthy weight, you lower your risk of developing serious health problems.
Related conditions
Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat. Furthermore, BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcome as are these more direct measures of body fatness.
BMI can be a screening tool, but it does not diagnose the body fatness or health of an individual. To determine if BMI is a health risk, a healthcare provider performs further assessments. Such assessments include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, and family history.
BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on the following formulas:
Measurement Units
Formula and Calculation
Kilograms and meters (or centimeters)
Formula: weight (kg) / [height (m)]2
With the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Because height is commonly measured in centimeters, divide height in centimeters by 100 to obtain height in meters.
Example: Weight = 68 kg, Height = 165 cm (1.65 m) Calculation: 68 ÷ (1.65)2 = 24.98
Pounds and inches
Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.
For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories. These categories are the same for men and women of all body types and ages.
BMI
Weight Status
Below 18.5
Underweight
18.5 – 24.9
Normal or Healthy Weight
25.0 – 29.9
Overweight
30.0 and Above
Obese
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens, even though it is calculated using the same formula as adult BMI. Children and teen’s BMI need to be age and sex-specific because the amount of body fat changes with age and the amount of body fat differs between girls and boys. The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts take into account these differences and visually show BMI as a percentile ranking. These percentiles were determined using representative data of the US population of 2- to 19-year-olds that was collected in various surveys from 1963-65 to 1988-94.
The correlation between the BMI and body fatness is fairly strong, but even if 2 people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ.
In general,
At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
At the same BMI, Blacks have less body fat than do Whites, and Asians have more body fat than do Whites
At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
At the same BMI, athletes have less body fat than do non-athletes.
The accuracy of BMI as an indicator of body fatness also appears to be higher in persons with higher levels of BMI and body fatness. While, a person with a very high BMI (e.g., 35 kg/m2) is very likely to have high body fat, a relatively high BMI can be the results of either high body fat or high lean body mass (muscle and bone). A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
According to the BMI weight status categories, anyone with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI over 30 would be classified as obese.
However, athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness. In general, a person who has a high BMI is likely to have body fatness and would be considered to be overweight or obese, but this may not apply to athletes. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
People who have obesity are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:
All-causes of death (mortality)
High blood pressure (Hypertension)
High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Chronic inflammation and increased oxidative stress
Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
Low quality of life
Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (20)
Normal BMI for Kids
Body mass index (BMI) is one way of finding out if your child (age 2-19) is at a healthy weight. There is no universal normal range for kids as there is for adults. That's because the normal amount of body fat changes with age and height and also depends on whether the child is a boy or a girl.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body Mass Index
8 women with the same Body Mass Index rating (BMI - 30) but with different weight distribution and abdominal volume, so they have different Body Volume Index(BVI) ratings.
Image by Richard2902 at en.wikipedia
Body Mass Index
A woman's two bare feet standing on a bathroom scale with a glass-topped surface on a tile floor. Toenails are painted red. Image supports content advising readers to set goals regarding improvements to their health and well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight and nutritious diet, and getting adequate exercise
Image by Bill Branson, NIH
Body Mass Index
Image by BruceBlaus
Woman on scale
A woman's two bare feet standing on a bathroom scale with a glass-topped surface on a tile floor. Toenails are painted red. Image supports content advising readers to set goals regarding improvements to their health and well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight and nutritious diet, and getting adequate exercise
Image by TheVisualMD
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
Video by streamingwell/YouTube
Why BMI Is BS
Video by Seeker/YouTube
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Obesity and its health risks are a growing problem in the United States. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of adults are either overweight (10 to 30 pounds heavier than recommended) or obese (more than 30 pounts heavier than recommended). The number of overweight and obese school-age children is also on the rise. This is especially alarming given what is known about how obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. A way to measure obesity is the BMI or body mass index, a measurement of weight categories based on height.
Image by TheVisualMD
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
Video by KidandParent/YouTube
Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass, with Introduction on Body Mass Index, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Calculate your own body mass index | Miscellaneous | Heatlh & Medicine | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
Our Supersized Kids
Video by KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Four body types to show classes of body mass index
Drawing of four body types to show classes of body mass index.
Image by NIDDK Image Library
Breaking Down Under Pressure
When you’re obese (body mass index of over 30), you greatly raise your risk of developing OA, especially of the knee. Women who are overweight women have four times the risk and overweight men have five times the risk of developing knee OA as people of normal body weight.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body mass index chart
Graph of body mass index showing the various divisions.
Image by InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Underweight - Body image rating scale for men and women.
Figure 1. Body image rating scale for men and women. Images 1 through 5 represent people who are underweight, images 6 through 9 represent people of normal weight, images 10 through 13 represent overweight people, and images 14 through18 represent obese people (11).
Image by CDC / Ettarh R et al.
Overweight Man Holding Beer Bottle
Three-dimensional visualization reconstructed from scanned human data. Lateral view of head and torso of overweight man with large belly holding beer bottle; the skeleton and internal organs are visible. Regular beer drinkers tend to be overweight or obese, due to the high number of calories alcohol contributes to their diet. A body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat calculated by dividing a person's body weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters, and is considered useful in determining health risks associated with being overweight or obese. A normal body mass index (BMI) is considered to be under 25, while overweight is under 30; anything greater than a value of 30 is considered to be obese. Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many health conditions and diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep problems, gallbladder disease, sexual dysfunction, and some cancers.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
Traditionally, obesity has been defined as a weight at least 20% above ideal weight. More recent guidelines call for classifying obesity by using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated based on your height and weight. However, BMI may classify as obese some people who aren't overweight but who are heavily muscled or big-boned. It also doesn't take into account the person's age. Waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) may be a better indication of disease risk, because they indicate if you have a lot of dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen. Some doctors feel it's possible to be classified as obese and still be physically fit.
Image by TheVisualMD
US Navy 110426-N-00332-114 Students measure the height and body weight of fourth and fifth grade students from Lindenwood Elementary School
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (April 26, 2011) Logistics Specialist 1st Class Alhaji M. Kabba, a command fitness leader aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), measures the height and body weight of a student from Lindenwood Elementary School. Sailors assigned to Theodore Roosevelt spent 10 weeks mentoring the students about the Navy's culture of fitness to prepare them for participation in the Navy Physical Fitness Assessment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Released)
Image by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Wikimedia
Normal BMI for Kids
TheVisualMD
Body Mass Index
Richard2902 at en.wikipedia
Body Mass Index
Bill Branson, NIH
Body Mass Index
BruceBlaus
Woman on scale
TheVisualMD
4:22
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
streamingwell/YouTube
3:02
Why BMI Is BS
Seeker/YouTube
Body Mass Index (BMI)
TheVisualMD
1:05
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
KidandParent/YouTube
3:55
Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass, with Introduction on Body Mass Index, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
7:21
Calculate your own body mass index | Miscellaneous | Heatlh & Medicine | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
12:16
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
UCTVTips/YouTube
30:00
Our Supersized Kids
KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Four body types to show classes of body mass index
NIDDK Image Library
Breaking Down Under Pressure
TheVisualMD
Body mass index chart
InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Underweight - Body image rating scale for men and women.
CDC / Ettarh R et al.
Overweight Man Holding Beer Bottle
TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
TheVisualMD
US Navy 110426-N-00332-114 Students measure the height and body weight of fourth and fifth grade students from Lindenwood Elementary School
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Wikimedia
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Also called: Pediatric BMI, Pediatric Quetelet Index, BMI Percentile, BMI-for-age
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI-for-age is the measure that can be used continuously from age 2 to 20 years to screen for obesity, overweight, or underweight.
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Also called: Pediatric BMI, Pediatric Quetelet Index, BMI Percentile, BMI-for-age
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI-for-age is the measure that can be used continuously from age 2 to 20 years to screen for obesity, overweight, or underweight.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{percentile}
5
85
95
Your result is Healthy Weight.
A BMI-for-age between the 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile indicates that your child is at a healthy weight for the height.
Related conditions
Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. In children, a high amount of body fat can lead to weight-related diseases and other health issues. Being underweight can also put one at risk for health issues.
A high BMI can indicate high body fatness. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is correlated with more direct measures of body fat.
After BMI is calculated for children and teens, it is expressed as a percentile obtained from either a graph or a percentile calculator linked below. These percentiles express a child’s BMI relative to US children who participated in national surveys from 1963-65 to 1988-94. Weight and height change during growth and development, as does their relation to body fatness. Consequently, a child’s BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same sex and age.
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States. BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles were based on expert committee recommendations and are shown in the following table.
BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles
Weight Status Category
Percentile Range
Underweight
Less than the 5th percentile
Healthy Weight
5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight
85th to less than the 95th percentile
Obesity
Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile
The following is an example of how sample BMI numbers would be interpreted for a 10-year-old boy.
For children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. Instead it is used to screen for potential weight and health-related issues. If children have a high BMI for their age and sex, a health care provider may perform further assessments to determine if excess fat is a problem. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old. For children under the age of 2 years old, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens even though it is calculated with the same formula. Due to changes in weight and height with age, as well as their relation to body fatness, BMI levels among children and teens are expressed relative to other children of the same sex and age. These percentiles are calculated from the CDC growth charts, which were based on national survey data collected from 1963-65 to 1988-94.
Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. For example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2. This would place the boy in the 95th percentile for BMI, and he would be considered to have obesity. This means that the child’s BMI is greater than the BMI of 95% of 10-year-old boys in the reference population.
Healthy weight status is based on BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile on the CDC growth chart. It is difficult to provide healthy weight ranges for children and teens because the interpretation of BMI depends on weight, height, age, and sex.
The prevalence of children and teens who measure in the 95th percentile or greater on the CDC growth charts has greatly increased over the past 40 years. Recently, however, this trend has leveled off and has even declined in certain age groups.
CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens age 2 through 19 years. For children under the age of 2 years old, consult the WHO standards. Although BMI is used to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. To determine whether the child has excess fat, further assessment by a trained health professional would be needed.
In general, this is not possible. The adult calculator provides only the BMI value and not the BMI percentile. Consequently, it is not appropriate to use the BMI categories for adults to interpret the BMI of children and teens.
However, if a child or teen has a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher, the child almost certainly has obesity. A BMI of 30 kg/m2 is approximately the 95th percentile among 17-year-old girls and 18-year-old boys.
The interpretation of BMI varies by age and sex. So if the children are not the same age and the same sex, the interpretation of BMI has different meanings. For children of different age and sex, the same BMI could represent different BMI percentiles and possibly different weight status categories.
See the following graphic for an example for a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy who both have a BMI-for-age of 23. (Note that two children of different ages are plotted on the same growth chart to illustrate a point. Normally the measurement for only one child is plotted on a growth chart.)
Obesity during childhood can harm the body in a variety of ways. Children who have obesity are more likely to have:
High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i.e., heartburn).
Childhood obesity is also related to:
Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
Social problems such as bullying and stigma.
[accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences | Overweight & Obesity | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (14)
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
One tool that may be used in evaluating body composition for children and teens (age 2-19) is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated differently for children and teens than for adults because, in children, the normal amount of body fat changes with age and also differs between girls and boys. (Adult BMI calculators don’t take into account age or sex.) There is no universal normal range as there is with BMI for adults. provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a BMI-for-age growth chart. It’s important to remember that BMI is not a diagnostic tool. It only indicates the possible presence of a weight problem. If your child’s BMI number is in the unhealthy range, he or she should be taken to a healthcare professional. Further assessments may then be done, such as plotting weight and height on a growth chart, measuring skinfold thickness with a caliper, evaluating physical activity and eating habits, and looking at family history.
Image by TheVisualMD
BMI-for-age – Boys Growth Chart
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States.
Document by CDC
BMI-for-age – Girls Growth Chart
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States.
Document by CDC
Our Supersized Kids
Video by KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Why BMI Is BS
Video by Seeker/YouTube
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
Image by TheVisualMD
Obesity Prevention Begins in Childhood
Obesity in children has risen dramatically worldwide. Worldwide, an estimated 1 in 10 children is overweight, a total of 155 million. Of those children, 30-45 million are obese. By 2010, nearly half of the children in North and South America and about 38% of the children in the European Union will be overweight.
Photo of Child: Copyright 2007, Emer & Sam
Image by TheVisualMD
A Global Epidemic
Childhood obesity is an epidemic around the globe. In the US, an estimated 17% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. In the last three decades, the percentage of obese children doubled in children ages 2-5 and tripled in children and adolescents ages 6-19. Up to 80% of obese youth become obese adults, who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in North America. In the European Union, about 30% of all children are overweight, and over 5 million of them are obese. Some 300,000 children in the EU become obese each year. But obesity is no longer a problem that affects only children in the developed world. The easy availability of cheap, high-calorie, low-nutrition food, along with less-active lifestyles, have made childhood obesity a major health issue in countries all over the world, including China, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and many others. Globally, about 10% of all children ages 5-17 are overweight, and 2-3% in that age group are obese, according to the International Obesity Task Force. Obese kids are more likely to be depressed and have low self-esteem, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and even type 2 diabetes. If your child has a weight problem, you have reason to be concerned. But there are many ways you can help. With your support, your child can get healthy—and stay healthy.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?
Side view of an overweight (195 lbs) 16-year old boy's stomach.
Image by OctoMocto
Consequences of Childhood Obesity
Consequences of Childhood Obesity : Even though overweight kids tend to have denser bones, they have more bone fractures than nonoverweight children. This may be because being overweight interferes with balance and also because overweight children fall with greater force.
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Adding to the Burden
Even though overweight kids tend to have denser bones, they have more bone fractures than nonoverweight children. This may be because being overweight interferes with balance and also because overweight children fall with greater force.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obesity and Related Health Problems
Obesity and Related Health Problems : Overweight and obese children are more likely to have gastrointestinal (digestive) disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gallstones.
Image by TheVisualMD
Fit Food
You want your child to be fit and healthy for a whole lifetime. That’s why it’s so important for you to start helping him or her to develop healthy eating habits now. Changing habits is easier when you’re young. What’s more, tackling overweight early on can prevent many or all of the devastating medical effects of obesity.
Image by TheVisualMD
Child nutrition
child nutrition - Picnic time
Image by dhanelle
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
TheVisualMD
BMI-for-age – Boys Growth Chart
CDC
BMI-for-age – Girls Growth Chart
CDC
30:00
Our Supersized Kids
KSPS Public TV/YouTube
3:02
Why BMI Is BS
Seeker/YouTube
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
TheVisualMD
Obesity Prevention Begins in Childhood
TheVisualMD
A Global Epidemic
TheVisualMD
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?
OctoMocto
Consequences of Childhood Obesity
TheVisualMD
Adding to the Burden
TheVisualMD
Obesity and Related Health Problems
TheVisualMD
Fit Food
TheVisualMD
Child nutrition
dhanelle
Waist Circumference Test
Waist Circumference Test
Also called: Waist Size
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Waist Circumference Test
Also called: Waist Size
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
37
40
Your result is Low risk.
Related conditions
Another way to estimate your potential disease risk is to measure your waist circumference. Excessive abdominal fat may be serious because it places you at greater risk for developing obesity-related conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Your waistline may be telling you that you have a higher risk of developing obesity-related conditions if you are:
A man whose waist circumference is more than 40 inches
A non-pregnant woman whose waist circumference is more than 35 inches
Waist circumference can be used as a screening tool but is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
To correctly measure waist circumference:
Stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones
Make sure tape is horizontal around the waist
Keep the tape snug around the waist, but not compressing the skin
Measure your waist just after you breathe out
Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Assessing Your Weight | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Healthy Weight | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Measuring your waist - Heart Matters | BHF [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (1)
Waist Circumference, Male
Extra weight around the midsection, or \"belly fat,\" is associated with a higher risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This image indicates the midsection region with a blue circle for easy reference. The man in this figure is of a healthy weight and has a lean waist circumference.
Image by TheVisualMD
Waist Circumference, Male
TheVisualMD
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Also called: WHR
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. It is an important tool to help determine the overall health risk. People with more weight around their waist are at greater risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, than those with weight around their hips.
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Also called: WHR
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. It is an important tool to help determine the overall health risk. People with more weight around their waist are at greater risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, than those with weight around their hips.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{ratio}
0.8
0.85
Your result is Optimal.
A value in this range has been shown to correlate strongly with general health and fertility. It also indicates a "pear-shaped" body type.
Related conditions
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. In healthy adults, the waist measurement should be smaller than the hip measurement. Having a larger waist, or belly, may be a sign that you have too much dangerous visceral fat—that's fat that sits deep inside of your belly and surrounds your organs. It may also indicate that you have too much fat in your liver. Because the presence of excess visceral and liver fat can indicate a higher risk for obesity related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, some researchers feel that waist-to-hip ratio is a better risk assessment tool than BMI.
Measure your waist with a non-stretchable measuring tape at the narrowest point between your hip bones and your lower rib. Then move the tape down to your hip at the widest point around your buttocks and measure. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement (waist ÷ hip).
Males with a ratio below 0.95 and females with a ratio below 0.8 are at low risk of complications from excess visceral fat. Males above 1.0 and females above 0.85 are at high risk. Any ratio falling in between is considered moderate risk.
Gender/Health Risk
Low
Moderate
High
Women
0.80 or below
0.81 to 0.85
0.85 or more
Men
0.95 or below
0.96 to 1.0
1.0 or more
Body shape
Pear
Avocado
Apple
Doctors are concerned not only with how much body fat you have, but where the fat is located on your body. Women tend to build up fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a "pear" shape. Men usually build up fat in their abdomen, giving them more of an "apple" shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped, and some women are apple-shaped.
Extra fat, especially in the abdomen, may put people at risk for certain health problems, even if they have a normal weight. People who are apple-shaped may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or certain types of cancer than people of the same weight who are pear-shaped.
Limitations of the waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
More prone to measurement error because it requires two measurements
More difficult to measure the hip than the waist
More complex to interpret, since increased waist-to-hip ratio can be caused by increased abdominal fat or by decreased lean muscle around the hips
Turning the measurements into a ratio leads to a loss of information: two people with very different BMIs could have the same waist-to-hip ratio
May be difficult to measure and less accurate in individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher
Strenghts of the waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
Good correlation with body fat as measured by the most accurate methods
Inexpensive
Studies show waist-to-hip ratio predicts development of disease and death in adults
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Am I at a Healthy Weight? [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
TheVisualMD & Alexander Tsiaras. TheVisualMD Diet A Scientific Approach to Weight Loss & Vitality. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Medical News Today. Why is the hip-waist ratio important? [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio Report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8-11 December 2008. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Apples & pears : the body shape solution for weight loss and wellness / Marie Savard, with Carol Svec. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Health Jade. Waist Hip Ratio. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (13)
Waist-Hip Ratio
Image illustrating the measurement of the parameters of waist-hip ratio.
Image by Mikael Haggstrom, from original works by SuicideGirls and FatM1ke
Waist-Hip Ratio
Image illustrating the measurement of the parameters of waist-hip ratio.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
Traditionally, obesity has been defined as a weight at least 20% above ideal weight. More recent guidelines call for classifying obesity by using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated based on your height and weight. However, BMI may classify as obese some people who aren't overweight but who are heavily muscled or big-boned. It also doesn't take into account the person's age. Waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) may be a better indication of disease risk, because they indicate if you have a lot of dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen. Some doctors feel it's possible to be classified as obese and still be physically fit.
Image by TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
Image by TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
Image by TheVisualMD
Coronal section of a lean body
A coronal section of a woman's lean body, with visible muscle tissue, visceral and subcutaneous fat, and some bones and organs. Image supports content showing the positive effects on health that result from good decision-making and habit-forming practices.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
Your WHR divides the circumference of your waist by that of your hips. It is a good indication of how much abdominal fat you have. Having a large belly is a sign that you have too much dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen.
Video by TheVisualMD
How do you measure your waist?
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
What Body Shape You Are Says A Lot About Your Weight
Video by Tech Insider/YouTube
The ACAP Recap: Waist Circumference
Video by ACAP Health/YouTube
Tri HDL
Video by ACAP Health/YouTube
Understanding your weight
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
How to measure your waist
Video by Bupa Health UK/YouTube
Waist-Hip Ratio
Mikael Haggstrom, from original works by SuicideGirls and FatM1ke
Waist-Hip Ratio
TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
TheVisualMD
Coronal section of a lean body
TheVisualMD
1:03
Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
TheVisualMD
0:32
How do you measure your waist?
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
2:30
What Body Shape You Are Says A Lot About Your Weight
Tech Insider/YouTube
2:33
The ACAP Recap: Waist Circumference
ACAP Health/YouTube
2:17
Tri HDL
ACAP Health/YouTube
2:31
Understanding your weight
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
0:42
How to measure your waist
Bupa Health UK/YouTube
Cortisol Test
Cortisol Test
Also called: Cortisol Levels
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections. Maintaining an adequate balance of cortisol is essential for health.
Cortisol Test
Also called: Cortisol Levels
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections. Maintaining an adequate balance of cortisol is essential for health.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
μg/dL
5
25
Your result is Normal.
Normally, the body produces the right amount of cortisol to keep it healthy. Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections.
Related conditions
{"label":"Cortisol (urine) reference range","scale":"lin","step":0.1,"hideunits":false,"items":[{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"Low","long":"Low","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":0,"max":10},"text":"If your urine cortisol levels are low, you may have Addison disease.","conditions":[]},{"flag":"normal","label":{"short":"Normal","long":"Normal","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":10,"max":55},"text":"Normal values for cortisol in a urine test are 10 to 55 micrograms per day (24 hours).","conditions":[]},{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"High","long":"High","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":55,"max":120},"text":"If your urine test reveals abnormally high levels of cortisol, you may be diagnosed with Cushing syndrome.","conditions":[]}],"units":[{"printSymbol":"\u03bcg\/h","code":"ug\/(24.h)","name":"microgram per 24 hour"}],"value":32.5,"disclaimer":"Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are \"within normal limits.\""}[{"abnormal":0},{"normal":0},{"abnormal":0}]
Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
μg/h
10
55
Your result is Normal.
Normal values for cortisol in a urine test are 10 to 55 micrograms per day (24 hours).
Related conditions
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva to see if your levels are normal. Cortisol is a hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It helps your body:
Respond to stress (cortisol is sometimes called the "stress hormone")
Reduce inflammation
Regulate blood sugar and metabolism (how your body uses food for energy)
Control blood pressure
Cortisol is made by your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above the kidneys. A gland in your brain, called the pituitary gland, makes a hormone that tells your adrenal glands how much cortisol to make. If your cortisol levels are too high or too low, it may mean you have a disorder of your adrenal glands, a problem with your pituitary gland, or a tumor that makes cortisol.
High levels of cortisol may also happen if you take large doses of certain steroid medicines, such as prednisone, for a long time. And low levels may happen if you stop the medicine suddenly.
Without treatment, cortisol levels that are too high or too low can be very serious.
A cortisol test is used to help diagnose medical conditions that cause too much or too little cortisol. These conditions include disorders that affect the adrenal glands:
Cushing's syndrome is a disorder that happens when your body has too much cortisol over a long period of time.
Addison disease is a condition in which your adrenal glands are damaged and can't make enough cortisol.
Secondary adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which your adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol because your pituitary gland isn't working properly.
Cortisol testing is also used to monitor treatment for these conditions.
You may need a cortisol test if you have symptoms of a condition that affects cortisol levels.
Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (too much cortisol) may include:
Weight gain
Thin arms and legs
Round face
Increased fat around the base of the neck or between the shoulder blades
Easy bruising
Wide purple streaks on the stomach, breasts, hips, and under the arms
Muscle weakness
Common symptoms of Addison disease and adrenal insufficiency (not enough cortisol) may include:
Long-lasting fatigue
Muscle weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Abdominal (belly) pain
A cortisol test often uses a sample of blood drawn at a lab. But the test may also be done on urine or saliva collected at home. Normally, cortisol levels vary during the day, so your provider may order more than one type of test to get more information about your cortisol levels.
For a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Blood samples are usually taken twice during the day--once in the morning when cortisol levels are at their highest, and again around 4 p.m., when levels are much lower.
For a cortisol urine test, your provider may ask you to collect all your urine during a 24-hour period. This is called a "24-hour urine sample test." For this test, you'll be given a special container and instructions for how to collect and store your urine sample. Your provider will tell you what time to start. The test usually includes the following steps:
To begin, urinate in the toilet as usual. Do not collect this urine. Write down the time you urinated.
For the next 24 hours, collect all your urine in the container.
Store the urine container in a refrigerator or in a cooler with ice during the collection period.
24 hours after starting the test, try to urinate if you can. This is the last urine collection for the test.
Return the container with your urine to your provider's office or the laboratory as instructed.
In certain cases, a urine test for cortisol may be done on one sample of urine collected in the morning.
A cortisol saliva test is usually done at home with a kit to collect a saliva sample. Your provider will tell you what time to collect your sample. It's often done at night before you go to bed when cortisol levels are normally lower.
Most kits include a swab and a container to store it. Be careful to follow the instructions that come with your kit. They usually include these general steps:
Do not eat, drink, brush, or floss your teeth for 30 minutes before the test.
Wash and dry your hands.
Open the tube that holds the swab and let the swab fall into your mouth without touching it with your hands.
Roll the swab in your mouth or hold it under your tongue for about 2 minutes until it is soaked with saliva.
Spit the swab back into the tube without touching it and close the tube.
Label the tube with the time you collected the sample.
Take your saliva sample to your doctor's office or the lab the next day as instructed.
The preparations will depend on the type of test you are having. Be sure to follow all the instructions that your provider gives you.
Stress can raise your cortisol levels, so you may need to rest before your test. A blood test will require you to schedule two appointments at different times of the day. Before a saliva test, you may need to stop using certain medicines. Let your provider know about all medicines you use, including skin creams. But don't stop using any medicines without talking with your provider first.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
There are no known risks to a urine or saliva test.
A cortisol test alone can't diagnose the cause of abnormal cortisol levels. If your cortisol level isn't normal, you will usually have more tests to find out what is causing the problem.
High levels of cortisol may be a sign that you have Cushing's syndrome. It may be caused by:
Taking high doses of certain steroid medicines for a long time to treat conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
Tumors in your pituitary gland or other parts of your body that make too much of the hormone that tells your adrenal glands to make cortisol
Tumors in your adrenal glands that make extra cortisol
Low levels of cortisol may mean you have Addison disease or secondary adrenal insufficiency:
Common causes of Addison's disease include damage to the adrenal glands from conditions, such as:
Autoimmune diseases
Certain infections, such as tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS
Common causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency include:
Autoimmune diseases
Problems with the pituitary gland
Traumatic brain injury
The most common cause of low cortisol levels is suddenly stopping steroid medicines after using them for a long time.
If your cortisol results aren't normal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Cortisol levels can be affected by:
Stress
Pregnancy
Exercise
Serious illness
Hot and cold temperatures
Certain thyroid diseases
Obesity
Certain medicines, such as birth control pills
To learn what your test results mean, talk with your health care provider.
A cortisol test is one of the tests that may be used to help diagnose congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is a group of inherited disorders in which the adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol.
Cortisol Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol (Urine) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol in Blood Test | HealthLink BC [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol in Urine Test | HealthLink BC [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (10)
High Cortisol Levels, What Female Symptoms Indicate This?
Video by EmpowHER/YouTube
Endocrinology - Adrenal Gland Hormones
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
Pharmacology - Glucocorticoids
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
How High Cortisol Impacts Physiology (and fat loss)
Video by FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube
The Complexities of Cortisol
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) - an Osmosis preview
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
Human Physiology - Cortisol Feedback and Function
Video by Janux/YouTube
Cortisol
The hippocampus is rich in receptors for cortisol. So cortisol is very active in the hippocampus. But sustained high levels of cortisol cause damage to neurons. Cortisol disrupts cellular metabolism of hippocampal neurons and increases the vulnerability of neurons to a variety of insults.5,6 In addition, when cortisol is elevated chronically, there is a reduction in neurogenesis.7 In a nutshell, the damage from cortisol in the hippocampus has been suggested to be an example of sacrificing long-term function (i.e., memory function) for the sake of short-term survival.8
Image by TheVisualMD
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone critical to many biological functions, including glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immunity, and thyroid regulation. The steroid hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and its release controlled by ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which is produced by the pituitary. Excess cortisol in the system is marked by a group of signs and symptoms known collectively as Cushing syndrome. Cortisol deficiency may be caused by dysfunction of the pituitary, known as secondary adrenal insufficiency; or by dysfunction of the adrenal glands, known as primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease.
Image by TheVisualMD
0:56
High Cortisol Levels, What Female Symptoms Indicate This?
EmpowHER/YouTube
10:43
Endocrinology - Adrenal Gland Hormones
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
9:10
Pharmacology - Glucocorticoids
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
6:07
How High Cortisol Impacts Physiology (and fat loss)
FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube
2:41
The Complexities of Cortisol
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
4:16
How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia
TED-Ed/YouTube
0:52
Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) - an Osmosis preview
Osmosis/YouTube
12:26
Human Physiology - Cortisol Feedback and Function
Janux/YouTube
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
Also called: TSH, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Thyrotropin
The test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in a sample of your blood. TSH is made in the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. If your TSH levels are too high or too low, it can indicate a thyroid disorder.
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
Also called: TSH, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Thyrotropin
The test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in a sample of your blood. TSH is made in the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. If your TSH levels are too high or too low, it can indicate a thyroid disorder.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
(mi.U.)/mL
0.45
4.5
Your result is Normal.
The pituitary gland releases TSH into the blood to stimulate the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. The amount of TSH that the pituitary sends into the bloodstream depends on the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. In most healthy individuals, a normal TSH value means that the thyroid is functioning properly.
Related conditions
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. A TSH test is a blood test that measures this hormone. TSH levels that are too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Your thyroid makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. They help control your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood. If you don't have enough thyroid hormones in your blood, many of your body functions slow down. If you have too much, many body functions speed up.
Your thyroid is controlled by a gland in your brain, called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH tells your thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make.
If the thyroid hormone levels in your blood are too low, your pituitary gland makes larger amounts of TSH to tell your thyroid to work harder. If your thyroid hormone levels are too high, the pituitary gland makes little or no TSH. By measuring TSH levels in your blood, you can find out if your thyroid is making the right level of hormones.
Other names: thyrotropin test
A TSH test is used to find out how well your thyroid is working. It can tell if you have hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) in your blood. But a TSH test can't show what is causing a thyroid problem.
If you take prescription thyroid hormone medicine because of hypothyroidism or because you had your thyroid removed, you'll have regular TSH tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. TSH tests are also used to monitor your thyroid hormone levels after treatment for hyperthyroidism.
You may need a TSH test if you have symptoms of too much or too little thyroid hormone in your blood.
Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) is also called overactive thyroid. Having more thyroid hormones than you need speeds up your body functions and causes symptoms that include:
Weight loss, even though you may be eating more than usual
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Feeling nervous or irritable
Trouble sleeping, fatigue
Shaky hands, muscle weakness
Sweating or being very sensitive to heat
Frequent bowel movements (pooping a lot)
Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) is also called underactive thyroid. Not having enough thyroid hormone slows down your body functions and causes symptoms that include:
Fatigue
Weight gain
Being very sensitive to cold
Joint and muscle pain
Dry skin
Dry, thinning hair
Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
Depression
Constipation
You may also have a TSH test, along with other tests, to help diagnose unusual bumps or lumps on your thyroid that may be thyroid cancer or thyroid nodules (growths on your thyroid that aren't cancer).
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a TSH blood test. If your health care provider has ordered other blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your TSH test results can tell you if your thyroid is making too much or too little thyroid. But the test can't explain why your TSH levels may be too high or too low.
If your test results aren't normal, your provider will probably order other thyroid blood tests to find out what's causing your thyroid problem. These blood tests may include:
T4 thyroid hormone test
T3 thyroid hormone test
Thyroid antibodies test to help diagnose an autoimmune thyroid disorder, such as:
Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism
Hashimoto's disease, that the most common cause of hypothyroidism
In certain cases, an abnormal TSH result may be a sign of a pituitary gland problem, but this doesn't happen often.
TSH levels may be high or low even when your thyroid gland is healthy. Serious illnesses not related to your thyroid may cause lower TSH levels for a short time. And TSH levels may be higher in people over age 80, even though they don't have any thyroid problems.
Pregnancy also affects TSH levels. They are often a little low during the first three months. But sometimes, thyroid disease develops during pregnancy. If you develop thyroid disease during pregnancy, your provider will monitor your condition through your pregnancy and after your baby is born. That's because hyperthyroidism, and less often, hypothyroidism, can continue after you give birth. If you have a history of thyroid disease, be sure to talk with your provider if you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant.
Newborn babies are routinely screened with a TSH test to see if they were born with hypothyroidism (congenital hypothyroidism).
004259: Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
TSH test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
TSH [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
004593: Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) in Pregnancy | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (28)
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which play key roles in regulating many aspects of metabolism, the rate at which the cells use energy and carry out chemical processes. The thyroid and the hormones it produces are under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland.
Image by TheVisualMD
Importance of Thyroid Gland
The thyroid and the hormones it produces, for example, are under control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which is produced by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it regulates the activities of other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland, however, takes its orders from the hypothalamus, which decides which particular hormones the pituitary should release and when.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Gland
Image by CFCF
Follicular Cell of Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid contains spherical follicles that absorb iodine ions from the blood for use in the production of T4 and T3. Iodine deficiency, rare in the U.S., affects two billion people worldwide and is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman with visible Brain revealing Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the skull, between the optic nerves. It is often referred to as the endocrine system's \"master gland\" because it regulates the activities of other glands. The pituitary, however, takes its orders from the hypothalamus, which decides which particular hormones the pituitary should release and when. The pituitary governs testosterone and estrogen production, as well as ovulation and breast milk production; it also helps regulate growth, blood pressure, maintain proper fluid balance, and other aspects of metabolism.
Image by TheVisualMD
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Image by MartaFF
Follicle-stimulating hormone
The time scale starts with the (LMP), given as day number. Day number 1 corresponds to 0 to 0.99 days from LMP, and Day number 2 corresponds to 1.00 to 1.99 days from LMP and so forth. The time scale ends at whatever is the actual next menstruation, which marks the beginning of the next cycle, which is equivalent to starting all over again from the beginning of the time scale.
Image by Mikael Haggstrom
hCG testing for pregnancy
Diagram of typical immunoassay home pregnancy test which detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). (A) A urine sample is applied to the stick. If pregnant, this should contain hCG. (B) As the sample is absorbed into the stick it goes through free dye-labeled antibodies that recognize and stick to hCG. (C) An anchored set of antibodies stick to and capture hCG molecules (and the attached dye-labeled antibodies), creating the first line. In the "not pregnant" sample no hCG is attached to the dye-labeled antibodies, so they wash past this point and no line appears. (D) A second anchored set of antibodies captures the dye-labeled antibodies, providing a positive control to indicate that the test is working properly.
Image by Madprime
The classic finding of exophthalmos and lid retraction in Graves' disease
Proptosis and Lid Retraction from Graves Disease : Photograph showing a classic finding of Graves' Disease, proptosis and lid retraction.
Image by Jonathan Trobe, M.D. - University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
What are the symptoms of Graves' disease?
Graves' disease symptoms
Image by Original uploader was Madhero88 at en.wikipedia
What is Graves' ophthalmopathy?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the orbits, showing congestion of the retro-orbital space and enlargement of the extraocular muscles (arrows), consistent with the diagnosis of Graves' Ophthalmopathy.
Image by Huy A Tran and Glenn EM Reeves
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam`s apple. Hormones produced by the thyroid gland have an enormous impact on many aspects of metabolism.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
A Classic Negative Feedback Loop
Image by OpenStax College
Woman's neck region with visible thyroid
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. The gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid is under the control of a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland; the pituitary gland, in turn, takes its orders from the hypothalamus. Thyroid problems usually fall into one of two categories: hypothroidism, when the gland produces too little hormone; or hyperthroidism, when the gland produces too much.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman with Visible Thyroid
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid and the hormones it produces are under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland, which is often referred to as the \"master gland\" because it regulates the activities of other endocrine glands.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that produces hormones that help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, and metabolism. Hyperthyroidism (when too much hormone is produced) is often caused by an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease, in which antibodies produced by the immune system over-stimulate the thyroid. The production of thyroid hormones is under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman With Goiter Due to Hypothyroidism
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that produces two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, and metabolism. A goiter is any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland. In the past, goiters were often due to a lack of iodine in the diet (iodized salt has greatly reduced such goiters). Goiters can be present in cases of either hormone overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism).
Image by TheVisualMD
Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
What Is High FSH?
Video by fertilityauthority/YouTube
What is FSH?
Video by fertilityauthority/YouTube
Human Physiology - Hormonal Regulation of Male Reproduction
Thyroid gland - What's the function of the thyroid?
Video by Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube
Normal Thyroid cell
A normal thyroid cell (Nthy.ori 3-1) adhered to gold surface. Picture taken by a Scanning electron microscope (SEM), University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Image by ChronakiDimitra
Thyroid scintigraphy
5 different scintigramms taken from thyroids with different syndroms: A) normal thyroid, B) Graves disease, diffuse increased uptake in both thyroid lobes, C) Plummers disease (TMNG, toxic multinodular goitre), D) Toxic adenoma, E) Thyroiditis. Marker 99Tc
Image by Petros Perros
Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Importance of Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Gland
CFCF
Follicular Cell of Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Woman with visible Brain revealing Pituitary Gland
TheVisualMD
Follicle-stimulating hormone
MartaFF
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Mikael Haggstrom
hCG testing for pregnancy
Madprime
The classic finding of exophthalmos and lid retraction in Graves' disease
Jonathan Trobe, M.D. - University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
What are the symptoms of Graves' disease?
Original uploader was Madhero88 at en.wikipedia
What is Graves' ophthalmopathy?
Huy A Tran and Glenn EM Reeves
Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
OpenStax College
Woman's neck region with visible thyroid
TheVisualMD
Woman with Visible Thyroid
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
TheVisualMD
Woman With Goiter Due to Hypothyroidism
TheVisualMD
3:15
Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:16
What Is High FSH?
fertilityauthority/YouTube
2:46
What is FSH?
fertilityauthority/YouTube
3:38
Human Physiology - Hormonal Regulation of Male Reproduction
Thyroid gland - What's the function of the thyroid?
Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube
Normal Thyroid cell
ChronakiDimitra
Thyroid scintigraphy
Petros Perros
Leptin Test
Leptin Test
Also called: LEP
The leptin test measures the levels of leptin in blood. Leptin is a hormone that regulates body weight. It is primarily secreted by fat tissue cells and controls appetite and energy level by signaling the hypothalamus in the brain. This test is used to evaluate body fat metabolism.
Leptin Test
Also called: LEP
The leptin test measures the levels of leptin in blood. Leptin is a hormone that regulates body weight. It is primarily secreted by fat tissue cells and controls appetite and energy level by signaling the hypothalamus in the brain. This test is used to evaluate body fat metabolism.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
ng/mL
4.7
23.7
Your result is Normal.
Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
Leptin is a hormone that is secreted by fat tissue cells and its main function is to signal the brain to regulate satiety; therefore, this hormone helps regulate your body weight by keeping under control your appetite and energy level.
High levels of leptin diminish hunger. In people with obesity, either there is insufficient leptin in the blood to signal the brain to stop hunger (leptin deficiency), or secretion of leptin is sufficient or even elevated but still fails to signal the brain to stop hunger (leptin resistance).
The leptin test measures the levels of this hormone in a sample of your blood.
This test can help doctors assess the amount of fat in your body, and it can also be used to help determine the cause of infertility or delayed puberty.
Your doctor may recommend this test if you experience any of the following:
Obesity
A sudden change in weight
Infertility problems
Delayed puberty
A healthcare professional takes a blood sample from a vein, generally in your arm, using a needle. A small amount of blood is collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel discomfort when the needle goes in or out.
No preparation required.
You may have slight pain or bruise at the spot where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms go away quickly.
The amount of leptin in your body varies from day to day, and it also varies depending on your weight, age, gender, medical history, and the method used for testing by the laboratory. Your test results may not mean you have a problem.
The results of this test are mostly used for clinical research purposes only, and should not be as a stand-alone test to screen or diagnose any disease or condition. Further research is needed to understand how to use the lab values from this test.
Leptin levels can typically be elevated during pregnancy. Other pathological conditions where leptin has been reported elevated is include gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Leptin Blood Test [accessed on Sep 28, 2018]
146712: Leptin, Serum or Plasma | LabCorp [accessed on Sep 28, 2018]
Leptin (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Nov 14, 2018]
Leptin (90367) [accessed on Nov 14, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (24)
Are Your Hormones Influencing Your Weight? | Earth Lab
Video by BBC Earth Lab/YouTube
thin-outside-fat-inside
Fat-Fat "Fat on the Outside Thin on the Inside" (FOTI) image. shows 2 subjects the first fat fit with reduced amount of internal fat compared with an obese control.
Image by ImagingFat
Visceral Fat _ What Causes a Beer Belly Medical Course (VIDEO)
Fatty tissue in the region of the ABDOMEN. It includes the ABDOMINAL SUBCUTANEOUS FAT and the INTRA-ABDOMINAL FAT.
Image by TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Overweight man standing
In times of starvation or during a weight-loss regimen, body protein is used to provide energy. Because our bodies do not store protein, functional body proteins such as enzymes and muscle proteins must be broken down to yield amino acids, which can then be used as fuel or to make glucose. Once protein are broken down into amino acids, they can be used as fuel, to make glucose, or to make fatty acids. Excess fatty acids can be stored as triglycerides in the body, thus contributing to weight gain. In a manner of speaking, the body does not want to convert protein to fat. The nutrient is far better suited to the construction and repair of tissues. But when your diet delivers more amino acids than your body needs - a common case among Americans - the excess is stored as glycogen or triglyceride fat. Fat is stored for the purpose of stockpiling energy but, in a sedentary lifestyle, we gain weight because those stockpiles are never called upon. When an oversized hunk of protein (say, 12oz steak instead of a proper 3oz portion) is consumed, insulin arrives in the blood to clear all the excess amino acid. In the presence of insulin, anything you eat is more likely to be converted to body fat.
Image by TheVisualMD
Dietary fat
Facing the Fats : It`s hard to imagine a time when fats were not controversial and did not strike fear in the hearts of dieters. Just the mention of fat-loaded words like butter and bacon can trigger powerful reactions! And yet it has only been in the past 50 years or so that our relationship with fats has become such a problem. Of the three primary macronutrients, fat provides the most energy (measured in calories) by weight. Fats have many other important jobs. Fats are a crucial source of raw materials. Dietary fat is a fundamental building block and our bodies use it in a variety of ways. We use fats to build hormones and neurotransmitters. Fats also aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and play key roles in regulating inflammation, chemical signaling and the metabolism of other nutrients.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Much Fat? Low Fat, Light & Fat Free
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
Visceral fat is found deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your vital organs. It's different from subcutaneous fat, the kind that's just under your skin. Too much visceral fat physically crowds your organs and your diaphragm. This can restrict your organs' blood supply and make it difficult for you to breathe deeply. Visceral fat secretes dangerous hormones and inflammatory chemicals. The blood that circulates through visceral fat goes directly into your liver through the portal vein. That means the substances your visceral fat produces all pour directly into your liver and into your bloodstream. Scientists think this may have important, and damaging, consequences, such as creating systemic inflammation. For many years, adipose (fat) tissue was thought to be a mostly dormant substance with a mainly passive function: storage. But now researchers have found that adipose tissue is, in fact, highly active. Adipose tissue has a metabolic function and acts as an endocrine organ-that is, it produces hormones and secretes them into your bloodstream, through which they travel to affect the function of organs all over your body. In fact, fat tissue produces literally dozens of hormones, including leptin, which controls appetite, and adiponectin, which affects insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. Because adipose tissue is now known to be so biologically active, researchers think that it could well play an important role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
Image by TheVisualMD
thin-outside-fat-inside
Coronal Image of a TOFI (thin-outside-fat-inside) and a Normal Control _ MRI Images showing different content of internal fat in two men of a similar size. Coronal Image of a TOFI and a Normal Control _ MRI Images showing different content of internal fat in two men of a similar size.
Image by ImagingFat
The Science of Appetite; Beating Overeating
Want to lose weight but can't stop eating? There's a reason for that. Find out how you can beat the desire to overeat and bring yourself one step closer to being your healthy self!
Image by TheVisualMD
Atherosclerosis Progression in Artery 2 of 4
Atherosclerosis begins when cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance, and other molecules in the blood stick to the inner lining of the arteries. High blood cholesterol levels, together with the presence of inflammatory cells, can cause this buildup to continue over a period of years and develop into hard deposits known as plaque.
Image by TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Female
Visceral fat lies deep within the abdomen, surrounding the abdominal organs. It is illustrated well in this female abdomenal cross section as the comparison of fat (highlighted in green) to organs can be seen to be fairly dramatic. Excessive visceral fat appears when an individual consumes more fat than the body can metabolize, forcing it to store the fat around body organs. Visceral fat can easily accumulate around the heart, rendering it less efficient, leading to a multitiude of cardiovascular issues. Having too much of this type of fat has also been linked to diabetes and other health problems. Having more visceral fat than necessary can also add weight to the skeleton, leading to bone and joint problems.
Image by TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Male
Visceral fat lies deep within the abdomen, surrounding the abdominal organs. It is illustrated well in male abdomenal cross section as the comparison of fat (highlighted in green) to organs can be seen to be fairly dramatic. Excessive visceral fat appears when an individual consumes more fat than the body can metabolize, forcing it to store the fat around body organs. Visceral fat can easily accumulate around the heart, rendering it less efficient, leading to a multitiude of cardiovascular issues. Having too much of this type of fat has also been linked to diabetes and other health problems. Having more visceral fat than necessary can also add weight to the skeleton, leading to bone and joint problems.
Image by TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary in Fat Tissue
This image shows capillaries in fat tissue with a cross section showing red blood cells, pink particles representing blood glucose and purple particles representing insulin. Normally, fat and muscle cells utilize glucose (pink) avoiding glucose build-up in the bloodstream.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body Fat Distribution in Male
Male figure revealing common fat distribution sites.. Men store more fat chiefly in the abdomen, which becomes especially apparent with age.
Image by TheVisualMD
Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue
Triglycerides are a large and varied category of fats found in both plants and animals. Because fats and blood, like oil and water, do not mix, triglycerides (as well as cholesterol) circulate through the body in special parcels called lipoproteins, which are fat-and-protein packages that enable fats to move freely within the bloodstream. Proteins and other components make up the outer shell; fats, in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol, are packed together inside.
Image by TheVisualMD
C-reactive Protein, Fat cells
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver that is released into the bloodstream by inflammation and infection as part of the body's immune response. Researchers have found, however, that fat cells also seem to trigger the production of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is why individuals who are overweight or obese tend to have chronically higher levels of CRP.
Image by TheVisualMD
A Downward Spiral
Poor sleep and sleep deprivation can increase your appetite. Sleep apnea causes imbalances in the levels of two hormones that are associated with feelings of hunger and satiety: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin, which is produced by fat cells, is an appetite suppressant. When leptin is present at high levels, it normally produces a feeling of satiety—the feeling that you are full and have eaten enough.
Ghrelin, which is produced by your stomach and pancreas, is leptin’s counterpart and has the reverse function: it’s an appetite stimulant. Levels of ghrelin increase before a meal and decrease afterwards.
Image by TheVisualMD
Sleep deprivation - How Much Sleep Do We Need?
A Downward Spiral : Poor sleep and sleep deprivation can increase your appetite. Sleep apnea causes imbalances in the levels of two hormones that are associated with feelings of hunger and satiety: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is an appetite suppressant. Ghrelin is an appetite stimulant. Disrupted sleep causes your levels of ghrelin to rise, stimulating your appetite. It also causes levels of leptin, the appetite suppressant, to decrease. OSA can raise your insulin and glucose (blood sugar) levels and damage your ability to process glucose-in some cases to the level of diabetics. Sleep apnea appears to be a risk factor for insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes, and people with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea may have twice the risk of developing insulin resistance.
Image by TheVisualMD
Leptin
Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone, meaning it comes from cells specialized for the storage of fat. The more body fat a person has, the more leptin in the bloodstream. The hormone is essential for regulating body weight and is understood to play a role in appetite, energy production, and metabolism. Since its discovery in 1994, academic and clinical interest in leptin has accelerated with the prevalence of obesity.
Image by TheVisualMD
Adipose tissue
Our Fat Helps Keep us Fat : Body fat is not dead weight. Adipose tissue secretes hormones, including leptin, an appetite-control hormone, and adiponectin, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on blood vessels. When we are overweight, our fat tissue lowers blood levels of adiponectin, which increases the risk of heart disease and decreases glucose sensitivity.
Image by TheVisualMD
The Power of Cravings
Your senses conspire to make you desire things you know will do you harm. Why?
Image by TheVisualMD
Sleep Fights Weight Gain
Your appetite control hormones and metabolism are thrown off balance when you don't get enough sleep.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section : Visceral fat is found deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your vital organs. It's different from subcutaneous fat, the kind that's just under your skin. Too much visceral fat physically crowds your organs and your diaphragm. This can restrict your organs' blood supply and make it difficult for you to breathe deeply. Visceral fat secretes dangerous hormones and inflammatory chemicals. The blood that circulates through visceral fat goes directly into your liver through the portal vein. That means the substances your visceral fat produces all pour directly into your liver and into your bloodstream. Scientists think this may have important, and damaging, consequences, such as creating systemic inflammation. For many years, adipose (fat) tissue was thought to be a mostly dormant substance with a mainly passive function: storage. But now researchers have found that adipose tissue is, in fact, highly active. Adipose tissue has a metabolic function and acts as an endocrine organ-that is, it produces hormones and secretes them into your bloodstream, through which they travel to affect the function of organs all over your body. In fact, fat tissue produces literally dozens of hormones, including leptin, which controls appetite, and adiponectin, which affects insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. Because adipose tissue is now known to be so biologically active, researchers think that it could well play an important role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
Image by TheVisualMD
Leptin and ghrelin
Leptin and ghrelin are known as the "hunger hormones". Leptin is a hormone, made by fat cells, that decreases your appetite. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases appetite, and also plays a role in body weight.
Image by Injurymap.com
3:56
Are Your Hormones Influencing Your Weight? | Earth Lab
BBC Earth Lab/YouTube
thin-outside-fat-inside
ImagingFat
Visceral Fat _ What Causes a Beer Belly Medical Course (VIDEO)
TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Overweight man standing
TheVisualMD
Dietary fat
TheVisualMD
How Much Fat? Low Fat, Light & Fat Free
TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
TheVisualMD
thin-outside-fat-inside
ImagingFat
The Science of Appetite; Beating Overeating
TheVisualMD
Atherosclerosis Progression in Artery 2 of 4
TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Female
TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Male
TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary in Fat Tissue
TheVisualMD
Body Fat Distribution in Male
TheVisualMD
Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue
TheVisualMD
C-reactive Protein, Fat cells
TheVisualMD
A Downward Spiral
TheVisualMD
Sleep deprivation - How Much Sleep Do We Need?
TheVisualMD
Leptin
TheVisualMD
Adipose tissue
TheVisualMD
The Power of Cravings
TheVisualMD
Sleep Fights Weight Gain
TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
TheVisualMD
Leptin and ghrelin
Injurymap.com
Body Fat Percentage Test
Body Fat Percentage Test
Also called: BFP, Percent Body Fat, PBF
Body fat percentage is a measurement of the fat contained in a person’s body according to that same person’s total body composition. This percentage correlates more accurately with the risk of having certain chronic diseases.
Body Fat Percentage Test
Also called: BFP, Percent Body Fat, PBF
Body fat percentage is a measurement of the fat contained in a person’s body according to that same person’s total body composition. This percentage correlates more accurately with the risk of having certain chronic diseases.
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Related conditions
Body fat percentage is a measurement of the proportion of a person's total mass of fat divided by their total body mass (lean muscle, bones, organs, etc.). This measurement is used to estimate whether you have a healthy amount of body fat according to your sex and total body mass.
A measurement known as body mass index (BMI) is the traditional tool that has been widely used to determine whether a person has a healthy weight.
However, BMI is just an index of weight excess, rather than excess body fatness composition and does not distinguish between fat, bone, or muscle mass, nor does indicate the distribution of fat among individuals.
Therefore, BMI has its limitations. For example, a healthy bodybuilder who weighs more due to an increase in muscular mass will undoubtedly have a BMI that falls into an obesity category.
This is why a body fat percentage test is used to differentiate more accurately a person’s body mass composition and fat distribution, providing more clues about the risk of chronic diseases such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and even cancer.
Several methods are available for determining the percentage of fat in your body, such as:
Measurement of skin folds in different body areas with instruments known as calipers (the most common and easy method).
Measuring the circumference of certain parts of your body with a flexible measuring tape.
Hydrostatic weighing, which is a technique where you are submerged under water and weighted.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which is a technique where X-rays are used to estimate your body fat percentage.
Whole-body air displacement plethysmography, which is a technique where a special air-chamber is used to calculate your body density.
3-D body scan, in which a device is used to generate a 3-D model of your body.
Other methods in which electrodes are used to pass electricity through your body tissues and then calculate your body fat percentage. This includes techniques such as electrical impedance myography, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and bioimpedance spectroscopy.
No special preparations are needed.
None.
The percentage of body fat in a person varies according to their sex and age. As a general rule, body fat percentage can be divided as follows:
For women:
Having 40% or more body fat is considered to be obesity.
From 32% to 40% is considered to be overweight.
From 25% to 31% is considered to be acceptable.
From 21% to 24% is considered to be lean.
From 14% to 20% is considered to be athletic.
10% to 12% is considered to be essential fat (minimum amount of fat that is necessary for the body to perform its basic functions).
For men:
Having 29% or more body fat is considered to be obesity.
From 26% to 29% is considered to be overweight.
From 18% to 25% is considered to be acceptable.
From 14% to 17% is considered to be lean.
From 6% to 13% is considered to be athletic.
2% to 4%: is considered to be essential fat (minimum amount of fat that is necessary for the body to perform its basic functions).
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (2)
What is obesity? - Mia Nacamulli
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
Being Overweight vs. Being Obese | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
5:11
What is obesity? - Mia Nacamulli
TED-Ed/YouTube
1:16
Being Overweight vs. Being Obese | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
Diagnosis
Normal BMI for Kids
Image by TheVisualMD
Normal BMI for Kids
Body mass index (BMI) is one way of finding out if your child (age 2-19) is at a healthy weight. There is no universal normal range for kids as there is for adults. That's because the normal amount of body fat changes with age and height and also depends on whether the child is a boy or a girl.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Are Overweight and Obesity Diagnosed?
Your doctor may diagnose overweight and obesity based on your medical history, physical exams that confirm you have a high body mass index (BMI) and possibly a high waist circumference, and tests to rule out other medical conditions.
Confirming a high body mass index (BMI)
To diagnose overweight and obesity, doctors measure BMI using calculations that depend on whether you are a child or an adult.
Children: A healthy weight is usually when your child’s BMI is at the 5th percentile up to less than the 85th percentile based on growth charts for children who are the same age and sex.
Adults: A healthy weight for adults is usually when your BMI is 18.5 to less than 25. To figure out your BMI, use the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s online BMI calculator and compare it with the table below. Even if your BMI is in the healthy range, it is possible to be diagnosed as obese if you have a large waist circumference that suggests increased amounts of fat in your abdomen that can lead to complications.
Body mass index (BMI) is used to determine if you or your child are underweight, healthy, or overweight or obese. Children are underweight if their BMI is below the 5th percentile, healthy weight if their BMI is between the 5th to less than the 85th percentile, overweight if their BMI is the 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile, and obese if their BMI is the 95th percentile or above. Adults are underweight if their BMI is below 18.5, healthy weight if their BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, overweight if their BMI is 25 to 29.9, and obese if their BMI is 30 or above. *A child’s BMI percentile is calculated by comparing your child’s BMI to growth charts for children who are the same age and sex as your child.
Medical history
Your doctor will ask about your eating and physical activity habits, family history, and will see if you have other risk factors Your doctor may ask if you have any other signs or symptoms. This information can help determine if you have other conditions that may be causing you to be overweight or obese or if you have complications from being overweight or obese.
Physical exam
During your physical exam, your doctor will measure your weight and height to calculate your BMI. Your doctor may also measure your waist circumference to estimate the amount of unhealthy fat in your abdomen. In adults, a waist circumference over 35 inches for women who are not pregnant or 40 inches for men can help diagnose obesity and assess risk of future complications. If you are of South Asian or Central and South American descent, your doctor may use smaller waist circumference values to diagnose your obesity. People from these backgrounds often don’t show signs of a large waist circumference even though they may have unhealthy amounts of fat deep in their abdomens and may be diagnosed with obesity.
Tests to identify other medical conditions
Your doctor may order some of the following tests to identify medical conditions that may be causing your overweight and obesity.
Blood tests. Blood tests that check yourthyroid hormone levels can help rule out hypothyroidism as a cause of your overweight or obesity. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) tests can rule out Cushing’s syndrome. Total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS)tests can help rule out polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Pelvic ultrasound to examine the ovaries and detect cysts. This can rule out PCOS.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute / NIH
Additional Materials (6)
Obesity 2- risk factors, lifestyle, diagnosis, BMI, waist to hip circumference
Video by MD Kiosk Health Channel/YouTube
Body mass index chart
Graph of body mass index showing the various divisions.
Image by InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Body Mass Index
Image by BruceBlaus
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Obesity and its health risks are a growing problem in the United States. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of adults are either overweight (10 to 30 pounds heavier than recommended) or obese (more than 30 pounts heavier than recommended). The number of overweight and obese school-age children is also on the rise. This is especially alarming given what is known about how obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. A way to measure obesity is the BMI or body mass index, a measurement of weight categories based on height.
Image by TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
Image by TheVisualMD
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
One tool that may be used in evaluating body composition for children and teens (age 2-19) is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated differently for children and teens than for adults because, in children, the normal amount of body fat changes with age and also differs between girls and boys. (Adult BMI calculators don’t take into account age or sex.) There is no universal normal range as there is with BMI for adults. provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a BMI-for-age growth chart. It’s important to remember that BMI is not a diagnostic tool. It only indicates the possible presence of a weight problem. If your child’s BMI number is in the unhealthy range, he or she should be taken to a healthcare professional. Further assessments may then be done, such as plotting weight and height on a growth chart, measuring skinfold thickness with a caliper, evaluating physical activity and eating habits, and looking at family history.
Image by TheVisualMD
4:02
Obesity 2- risk factors, lifestyle, diagnosis, BMI, waist to hip circumference
MD Kiosk Health Channel/YouTube
Body mass index chart
InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Body Mass Index
BruceBlaus
Body Mass Index (BMI)
TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
TheVisualMD
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
TheVisualMD
Body Weight Test
Body Weight Test
Also called: Weight, Weight Measurement
Human body weight refers to a person's mass or weight. Body weight is measured in kilograms, a measure of mass, throughout the world, although in some countries such as the United States it is measured in pounds, or as in the United Kingdom, stones and pounds. A healthy body weight depends on a person's sex and height.
Body Weight Test
Also called: Weight, Weight Measurement
Human body weight refers to a person's mass or weight. Body weight is measured in kilograms, a measure of mass, throughout the world, although in some countries such as the United States it is measured in pounds, or as in the United Kingdom, stones and pounds. A healthy body weight depends on a person's sex and height.
Body weight is the mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.
Use a digital scale. Avoid using bathroom scales that are spring-loaded. Place the scale on firm flooring (such as tile or wood) rather than carpet.
Remove shoes and heavy clothing, such as sweaters.
Stand with both feet in the center of the scale.
Record the weight to the nearest decimal fraction (for example, 55.5 pounds or 25.1 kilograms).
Your healthy body weight depends on your sex and height.
For adults, a normal or healthy weight is defined as an appropriate weight in relation to height. This ratio of weight to height is known as the body mass index (BMI). People who are overweight have too much body weight for their height; people who are obese have a large amount of extra body fat in relation to their height.
Use the table below to see if your BMI falls within a normal range:
If BMI is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
If BMI is 18.5–24.9, you are normal or healthy weight.
If BMI is 25.0–29.9, you are overweight.
If BMI is 30.0 and above, you are obese.
For children and teens, overweight is defined differently than it is for adults. BMIs for youth 2-20 years old are determined by comparing their weight and height against growth charts that take their age and gender into account, because children are still growing, and boys and girls develop at different rates. A child's "BMI-for-age," as it is called, shows how his or her BMI compares with other girls or boys of the same age. A child or teen between the 85th and 95th percentile on the growth chart is considered overweight. A child or teen at the 95th percentile or above is considered obese.
A healthy weight lowers your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, and some types of cancer.
Measuring Children's Height and Weight Accurately At Home | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Aim for a Healthy Weight. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Additional Materials (12)
Why measure height and weight?
Video by seca/YouTube
Understanding your weight
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
How to: Measure Weight
Video by PolyFit CP/YouTube
How to Measure Yourself for weight loss
Video by Fit Girl/YouTube
Weight Management
Anyone with prediabetes or diabetes who is overweight has a number of excellent reasons to lose weight. If blood glucose levels are high but diabetes hasn`t yet developed, losing just 5-10% of body weight significantly reduces blood sugar levels by changing cells` responsiveness to insulin. For someone who weighs 200 lbs, that`s as little as 10 lbs. If losing weight is combined with exercising, the risk of developing diabetes is cut by 58%. The loss of even a modest amount of weight may allow some people to stop taking their glucose-control medications.
Image by TheVisualMD
Benefits of Weight Loss
Losing only 5-10% of body weight has a very significant benefit: it lowers the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Weight loss can improve blood pressure, lower triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) levels while raising the level of HDL-cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), and decrease levels of inflammation throughout the body. Diet and exercise increase blood flow which itself is protective against blood vessel inflammation and blockage. Plus, weight loss lessens stress on joints (including the feet), aids sleep, and may reduce risk of cancer.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight helps to relieve sleep apnea. Even a small amount of weight loss can help, and a large amount of weight loss often cures the condition completely. For years, doctors have had anecdotal evidence that weight loss relieved or cured sleep apnea and have advised their patients with sleep apnea to lose weight. There were few studies, though, to show whether the recommended amount of weight loss—about 10% of body weight—was enough to make a difference. However, in 2009, a study of 264 obese or overweight adults with OSA was conducted by the Center for Obesity Research and Education and researchers from six universities. The study showed both doctors and participants that weight loss significantly benefits sleep apnea. Study participants were split into two groups. The first group entered a behavioral weight-loss program that included portion-controlled diets and a prescribed exercise regimen of 175 minutes per week. The second group simply attended several informational seminars.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight helps to relieve sleep apnea. Even a small amount of weight loss can help, and a larger amount of weight loss often cures the condition completely. For years, doctors have had anecdotal evidence that weight loss relieved or cured sleep apnea and have advised their patients with sleep apnea to lose weight. There were few studies, though, to show whether the recommended amount of weight loss-about 10% of body weight-was enough to make a difference. A recent study, however, of 264 overweight or obese adults showed that those who lost an average of 24 lbs showed significant improvement in sleep apnea symptoms, and some were totally cured of the disorder.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
When it comes to carrying extra fat, a little goes a long way. Being as little as 5% over your ideal weight is associated with a shorter life expectancy. A 50-year-old man who is 50 pounds overweight has half the remaining life expectancy as a man with normal body weight. Excess poundage can make existing health problems worse, causing symptoms of disorders to appear earlier or making them more severe than they would be otherwise.
Image by TheVisualMD
Low Birth Weight in Infants: Dr. Soliman, CHOC Children's
Video by CHOC Children's/YouTube
Why BMI Is BS
Video by Seeker/YouTube
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
Video by streamingwell/YouTube
2:00
Why measure height and weight?
seca/YouTube
2:31
Understanding your weight
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
2:33
How to: Measure Weight
PolyFit CP/YouTube
6:18
How to Measure Yourself for weight loss
Fit Girl/YouTube
Weight Management
TheVisualMD
Benefits of Weight Loss
TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
TheVisualMD
Lose Weight
TheVisualMD
4:13
Low Birth Weight in Infants: Dr. Soliman, CHOC Children's
CHOC Children's/YouTube
3:02
Why BMI Is BS
Seeker/YouTube
4:22
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
streamingwell/YouTube
ACTH Blood Test
ACTH Blood Test
Also called: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, ACTH, Adrenocorticotrophin, Corticotropin
This test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood. ACTH is made by the pituitary gland and controls the production of a hormone called cortisol. Too much or too little cortisol can cause serious health problems.
ACTH Blood Test
Also called: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, ACTH, Adrenocorticotrophin, Corticotropin
This test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood. ACTH is made by the pituitary gland and controls the production of a hormone called cortisol. Too much or too little cortisol can cause serious health problems.
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Your result is Normal.
Cortisol levels should peak in the morning and be at their lowest in the evening. ACTH reference interval for samples collected between 7 and 10 AM.
Related conditions
This test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in a sample of your blood. A hormone is a chemical messenger in your bloodstream that controls the actions of certain cells or organs. ACTH tells your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above your kidneys, to make another hormone called cortisol.
Cortisol affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It helps your body:
Respond to stress (cortisol is sometimes called the "stress hormone")
Reduce inflammation
Regulate blood glucose, also called blood sugar, and metabolism (how your body uses food for energy)
Control blood pressure
Because ACTH controls how much cortisol you make, ACTH testing is usually done with a blood test to measure your cortisol levels. Normally, if cortisol levels drop too low, your ACTH levels will increase to trigger your adrenal glands to make more cortisol. And if cortisol levels are high, ACTH levels will decrease so your adrenal glands will make less cortisol.
Your ACTH and cortisol levels are controlled by a complex feedback system of hormones made in different parts of your body. These include your:
Pituitary gland. This small gland is in the base of your brain. It makes ACTH and other hormones.
Hypothalamus. This is a part of your brain. It makes a hormone that tells your pituitary gland how much ACTH to make.
Adrenal glands. These glands respond to ACTH by making cortisol and releasing it into your bloodstream. The increased amount of cortisol in your blood signals your hypothalamus to stop making the hormone that tells your pituitary to make ACTH.
Conditions that affect any part of this system can affect the amount of cortisol in your body. Too much or too little cortisol can lead to serious health problems.
Other names: Adrenocorticotropic hormone blood test, corticotropin
An ACTH test is used to help diagnose and monitor conditions that affect cortisol levels. These conditions include disorders of the pituitary and adrenal glands.
High cortisol levels may be from:
Cushing's disease, a tumor in the pituitary gland that's usually benign (not cancer). The tumor makes too much ACTH, which triggers the adrenal glands to make too much cortisol. The tumor keeps making ACTH even when cortisol levels are high.
Cushing's syndrome, a disorder in which your body is exposed to too much cortisol over a long period of time. The extra cortisol may be caused by:
Long-term use of high doses of steroid medicine. Steroids can have side effects that increase cortisol levels.
Tumors in the adrenal glands that make extra cortisol, even when blood cortisol levels are high.
Tumors outside of the pituitary gland that make extra ACTH. This triggers the adrenal glands to make too much cortisol. These tumors are often found in the lungs, but they aren't common.
Low cortisol levels may be from:
Addison disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands can't make enough cortisol because they are damaged. The damage is usually caused by autoimmune disease.
Hypopituitarism, a condition in which the pituitary gland either stops making one or more hormones or can't make enough hormones, including ACTH. This rare disorder may be caused by pituitary tumors, damage to the pituitary gland, or a problem with the hypothalamus. If the pituitary gland can't make enough ACTH, the adrenal glands won't make enough cortisol.
ACTH and cortisol tests are used together to help find out which type of condition may be causing abnormal cortisol levels. Other tests are often needed to help make a final diagnosis.
You may need this test if you had abnormal results on a cortisol test or have symptoms of too much or too little cortisol.
Symptoms of too much cortisol may vary. They may include:
Weight gain
Thin arms and legs
Round face
Increased fat around the base of the neck or between the shoulder blades
Easy bruising
Wide purple streaks on the stomach, breasts, hips, and under the arms
Muscle weakness
Symptoms of too little cortisol include:
Long-lasting fatigue
Muscle weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Abdominal (belly) pain
You may also need this test if you have symptoms of hypopituitarism. Symptoms will vary depending on which pituitary hormones are affected and how low the levels are. If ACTH is decreased, you may have symptoms from low cortisol levels. If a tumor is causing hypopituitarism, symptoms may also include headaches and vision problems.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Your health care provider will tell you how to prepare for your test. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before your test. Blood samples for ACTH testing are often taken early in the morning when ACTH levels are at their highest for the day.
You may need to stop taking certain medicines before this test, so tell your provider about everything you take. But don't stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
To understand what the results of your ACTH test mean, your provider will usually compare your ACTH level with your cortisol level. If your results are abnormal, you may need other tests to confirm the specific cause. Ask your provider to explain what your test results say about your health.
In general:
High ACTH and high cortisol levels are a sign of pituitary tumor that makes ACTH (Cushing's disease). The extra ACTH triggers your adrenal glands to make too much cortisol.
You'll likely need more tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, to confirm whether you have a pituitary tumor. The high level of ACTH could also be from other causes including:
A rare type of tumor in your lung, pancreas, or thyroid gland
A condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia
High ACTH and low cortisol levels are a sign of damage to your adrenal glands (Addison disease). If your adrenal glands can't make enough cortisol, your pituitary gland usually makes more ACTH to try to get your adrenal glands to work better.
Low ACTH and high cortisol levels are a sign of Cushing's syndrome. This means that high cortisol levels may be caused by long-term use of steroid medicines or an adrenal gland tumor that makes extra cortisol. The high cortisol levels signal your hypothalamus and pituitary gland to decrease ACTH levels.
Low or normal ACTH and low cortisol levels are a sign of hypopituitarism. This means that a pituitary tumor or damage to your pituitary gland may prevent it from making enough ACTH. Without enough ACTH, your adrenal glands aren't stimulated to make enough cortisol. Over time, they may shrink.
Several other tests may be used to help diagnose the specific cause of abnormal cortisol levels. These tests measure changes in your ACTH or cortisol levels after you are given medicines that either trigger or stop the production of the hormones involved with making cortisol.
For example, an ACTH stimulation test is commonly used to help find out if a problem with your adrenal glands is causing low cortisol levels. This blood test measures your cortisol levels before and after you get an injection (shot) of ACTH. The results show whether your adrenal glands are able to respond normally to ACTH by making cortisol.
If your adrenal glands make a normal amount of cortisol after the shot, it suggests that a problem with your hypothalamus or pituitary gland is causing low cortisol levels. If your adrenal glands make little or no cortisol after the shot, you most likely have a problem that affects the health of your adrenal glands.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
ACTH blood test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Test - Testing.com. Dec 14, 2022 [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
ACTH (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (12)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Adrenocorticotropic hormone is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological stress (along with its precursor corticotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus). Its principal effects are increased production and release of corticosteroids. A deficiency of ACTH is a cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency and an excess of it is a cause of Cushing's syndrome.
Image by TheVisualMD
Cortisol
The hippocampus is rich in receptors for cortisol. So cortisol is very active in the hippocampus. But sustained high levels of cortisol cause damage to neurons. Cortisol disrupts cellular metabolism of hippocampal neurons and increases the vulnerability of neurons to a variety of insults.5,6 In addition, when cortisol is elevated chronically, there is a reduction in neurogenesis.7 In a nutshell, the damage from cortisol in the hippocampus has been suggested to be an example of sacrificing long-term function (i.e., memory function) for the sake of short-term survival.8
Image by TheVisualMD
Anatomy and Physiology: Endocrine System: ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin Hormone) V2.0
ADH and aldosterone increase blood pressure and volume. Angiotensin II stimulates release of these hormones. Angiotensin II, in turn, is formed when renin cleaves angiotensinogen. (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Image by CNX Openstax (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Regulation of Body Processes
Professional baseball player Jason Giambi publically admitted to, and apologized for, his use of anabolic steroids supplied by a trainer. (credit: Bryce Edwards)
Image by CNX Openstax (credit: Bryce Edwards)
Regulation of Body Processes
Hormonal regulation of the female reproductive system involves hormones from the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries.
Image by CNX Openstax
Regulation of Body Processes
The main symptoms of diabetes are shown. (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Image by CNX Openstax (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone critical to many biological functions, including glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immunity, and thyroid regulation. The steroid hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and its release controlled by ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which is produced by the pituitary. Excess cortisol in the system is marked by a group of signs and symptoms known collectively as Cushing syndrome. Cortisol deficiency may be caused by dysfunction of the pituitary, known as secondary adrenal insufficiency; or by dysfunction of the adrenal glands, known as primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease.
Image by TheVisualMD
Pituitary Gland
In normal functioning, environmental stress activates the hypothalamus to release corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to increase production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then stimulates the adrenal gland to release cortisol. It is cortisol that produces effects to help us deal with stress.
Image by TheVisualMD
Response to stress
In response to stress, the hypothalamus (H) releases the corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) into the anterior pituitary (P), causing the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood flow. ACTH stimulates the generation of glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans and corticosterone in mice) in the cortex of the adrenal gland (A), which are then released into the blood. Stress also activates the autonomic sympathetic nerves in the medulla of the adrenal gland to elicit the production of catecholamines, norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are then released into the blood. Glucocorticoids and catecholamines influence the generation of interleukins, which are involved in the viability and proliferation of immunocompetent gut cells via receptors.
Image by Campos-Rodriguez R, Godinez-Victoria M, Abarca-Rojano E, Pacheco-Yepez J, Reyna-Garfias H, Barbosa-Cabrera RE, Drago-Serrano ME
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
TheVisualMD
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
2:22
Anatomy and Physiology: Endocrine System: ACTH (Adrenocorticotropin Hormone) V2.0
DrBruce Forciea/YouTube
0:34
Adrenal Glands Animation
biosingh36/YouTube
HPA Axis
BrianMSweis
Regulation of Body Processes
CNX Openstax (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Regulation of Body Processes
CNX Openstax (credit: Bryce Edwards)
Regulation of Body Processes
CNX Openstax
Regulation of Body Processes
CNX Openstax (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström)
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
Pituitary Gland
TheVisualMD
Response to stress
Campos-Rodriguez R, Godinez-Victoria M, Abarca-Rojano E, Pacheco-Yepez J, Reyna-Garfias H, Barbosa-Cabrera RE, Drago-Serrano ME
DHEA Sulfate Test
DHEA Sulfate Test
Also called: DHEAS, DHEA-S, DHEA, DHEA-SO4, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
This test measures the level of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) in the blood. DHEAS is a male sex hormone found in both men and women. It is mostly made in the adrenal glands. Abnormal DHEAS levels may mean there is a problem with your adrenal glands or sex organs (testicles or ovaries).
DHEA Sulfate Test
Also called: DHEAS, DHEA-S, DHEA, DHEA-SO4, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
This test measures the level of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) in the blood. DHEAS is a male sex hormone found in both men and women. It is mostly made in the adrenal glands. Abnormal DHEAS levels may mean there is a problem with your adrenal glands or sex organs (testicles or ovaries).
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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μg/dL
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Your result is Normal.
A result in the normal range means your adrenal glands are working the way they should. Normal blood levels of DHEA-sulfate can differ by sex and age.
Related conditions
This test measures the levels of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) in your blood. DHEAS stands for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. DHEAS is a male sex hormone that is found in both men and women. DHEAS plays an important role in making the male sex hormone testosterone and the female sex hormone estrogen. It’s also involved in the development of male sexual characteristics at puberty.
DHEAS is mostly made in the adrenal glands, two small glands located above your kidneys. They help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other body functions. Smaller amounts of DHEAS are made in a man’s testicles and in a woman’s ovaries. If your DHEAS levels are not normal, it may mean there is a problem with your adrenal glands or sex organs (testicles or ovaries.)
A DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) test is most often used to:
Find out if your adrenal glands are working right
Diagnose tumors of the adrenal glands
Diagnose disorders of the testicles or ovaries
Find out the cause of early puberty in boys
Find out the cause of excess body hair growth and development of masculine features in women and girls
A DHEAS test is often done along with other sex hormone tests. These include testosterone tests for men and estrogen tests for women.
You may need this test if you have symptoms of high levels or low levels of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). Men may not have any symptoms of high levels of DHEAS. Symptoms of high levels of DHEAS in women and girls may include:
Excess body and facial hair growth
Deepening of voice
Menstrual irregularities
Acne
Increased muscularity
Hair loss at the top of the head
Baby girls may also need testing if they have genitals that are not clearly male or female in appearance (ambiguous genitalia). Boys may need this test if they have signs of early puberty.
Symptoms of low levels of DHEAS may include the following signs of an adrenal gland disorder:
Unexplained weight loss
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Dehydration
Craving for salt
Other symptoms of low DHEAS are related to aging and may include:
Decreased sex drive
Erectile dysfunction in men
Thinning of vaginal tissues in women
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don’t need any special preparations for a DHEA sulfate test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
If your results show high levels of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), it may mean you have one of the following conditions:
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, an inherited disorder of the adrenal glands
A tumor of the adrenal gland. It may be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a common hormone disorder affecting childbearing women. It is one of the leading causes of female infertility.
If your results show low levels of DHEAS, it may mean you have one of the following conditions:
Addison disease. Addison disease is a disorder in which the adrenal glands are not able to make enough of certain hormones.
Hypopituitarism, a condition in which the pituitary gland does not make enough pituitary hormones
If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.
DHEA sulfate levels normally decline with age in both men and women. Over-the-counter DHEA sulfate supplements are available and are sometimes promoted as an anti-aging therapy. But there is no reliable evidence to support these anti-aging claims. In fact, these supplements may cause serious side effects. If you have questions about DHEA supplements, talk to your health care provider.
NIH Medical Encyclopedia > DHEA-sulfate test [accessed on Jun 26, 2020]
Dehydroepiandrosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
DHEA Sufate Levels & DHEA Test: Purpose, Procedure, Risks, Results [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
DHEA-Sulfate Serum Test: Purpose, Procedure, and Results [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
DHEA Sulfate (402X) [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
004020: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Sulfate | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
Fontanarosa, P., & Christiansen, S. (2009, April 01). Laboratory Values. AMA Manual of Style. Ed. [accessed on Oct 15, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Adrenocorticotropic hormone is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological stress (along with its precursor corticotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus). Its principal effects are increased production and release of corticosteroids. A deficiency of ACTH is a cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency and an excess of it is a cause of Cushing's syndrome.
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Androgen3DMolecule
Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power.
Hirsutism
Barbara van Beck, as depicted in an engraving by G. Scott.
Image by Wellcome Trust
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate 3D Molecule
The circulating form of a major C19 steroid produced primarily by the ADRENAL CORTEX. DHEA sulfate serves as a precursor for TESTOSTERONE; ANDROSTENEDIONE; ESTRADIOL; and ESTRONE. (Mesh/NLM/NIH)
DHEA-S
Dehydroepiandrosterone is an important endogenous steroid hormone. It is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans, in whom it is produced in the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the brain, where it functions predominantly as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the androgen and estrogen sex steroids. However, DHEA also has a variety of potential biological effects in its own right, binding to an array of nuclear and cell surface receptors, and acting as a neurosteroid.
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DHEA Sulfate Blood Test
Video by theBubblelush/YouTube
HPA Axis
Anatomography
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
TheVisualMD
Androgen3DMolecule
Hirsutism
Wellcome Trust
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate 3D Molecule
DHEA-S
TheVisualMD
1:35
DHEA Sulfate Blood Test
theBubblelush/YouTube
Treatment
Obesity Prevention Starts Early
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Obesity Prevention Starts Early
Today’s generation of children is predicted to have a shorter lifespan, by 2-5 years, than their parents due to obesity and its related conditions. Childhood obesity childhood lays the ground for cardiovascular disease. Studies have found that teenagers can develop well-established fatty streaks (the precursors to plaque) in their coronary artery walls, and children as young as 10 can have plaque that may lead to heart attacks and strokes. Children with high blood cholesterol are likely to have elevated blood cholesterol as they grow older. It’s much easier to prevent obesity than to cure it, so tackle overweight early on to keep your child healthy and fit—for life.
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How Are Overweight and Obesity Treated?
Treatment for overweight and obesity depends on the cause and severity of your condition. Possible treatments include healthy lifestyle changes, behavioral weight-loss treatment programs, medicines, and possibly surgery. You may need treatments for any complications that you have.
Healthy lifestyle changes
To help you aim for and maintain a healthy weight, your doctor may recommend that you adopt lifelong healthy lifestyle changes.
Heart-healthy eating. Learn about which foods and nutrients are part of a healthy eating pattern. It’s important to eat the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight. If you need to lose weight, try to reduce your total daily calories gradually. Talk with your doctor before beginning any diet or eating plan.
Physical activity. Many health benefits are associated with physical activity and getting the recommended amount of physical activity needed each week. Physical activity is an important factor in determining whether a person can maintain a healthy body weight, lose excess body weight, or maintain successful weight loss. Before starting any exercise program, ask your doctor about what level of physical activity is right for you.
Healthy Sleep. Studies have shown some relationship between lack of sleep and obesity.
Making lifelong healthy lifestyle changes, such as heart-healthy eating and physical activity, can help you modify your energy balance to help you aim for and maintain a healthy weight. For example:
To aim for a healthy weight, or lose weight, you want your energy OUT to be more than your energy IN.
To maintain weight loss you want your energy IN and energy OUT to be the same.
Behavioral weight-loss programs
Your doctor may recommend you enroll in individual or group behavioral weight-loss programs to treat your overweight and obesity. In these programs, a trained healthcare professional will customize a weight-loss plan for you. This plan will include a moderately-reduced calorie diet, physical activity goals, and behavioral strategies to help you make and maintain these lifestyle changes.
Did you know your brain’s pleasure and reward centers can be stimulated by food and the act of eating, making it harder to change eating patterns and lose weight?
Researchers know that our brains can become patterned so that we feel pleasure or reward from eating. This can make us unconsciously crave food so our bodies feel that sense of pleasure. It can also make it hard to change our eating patterns, lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight. Researchers are studying whether cognitive behavioral therapies can be an effective treatment for overweight and obesity by retraining the brain to not associate pleasure with food and the act of eating.
Medicines
When healthy lifestyle changes are not enough, your doctor may treat your overweight and obesity with FDA-approved medicines. These medicines work in the following parts of your body.
Brain. Several medicines change the way the brain regulates the urge to eat, which can help to decrease appetite. Some examples of these medicines are diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, lorcaserin, naltrexone/bupropion, and liraglutide.
Gastrointestinal tract. Orlistat is the only available medicine. It blocks your intestines from absorbing fat from foods in your diet.
Weight loss medicines are not recommended as a single treatment for weight loss. These medicines can help you lose weight but when combined with lifestyle changes may result in greater weight loss. Some of these medicines should not be used if you have certain conditions or are taking certain medicines. Also, these medicines have side effects. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, breast feeding, or have a family history of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.
Surgical procedures
Some patients with obesity do not respond to healthy lifestyle changes and medicines. When these patients develop certain obesity-related complications, they may be eligible for the following surgeries.
Gastric bypass surgery. A small part of the stomach is connected to the middle part of the intestine, bypassing the first part of intestine. This decreases the amount of food that you can eat and the amount of fat your body can take in and store.
Gastrectomy. A big portion of the stomach is removed to decrease the amount of food that you can eat.
Gastric banding. A hollow band is placed around the upper part of the stomach creating a smaller stomach. This decreases the amount of food you can eat.
Talk to your doctor to learn more about the benefits and risks of each type of surgery. Possible complications include bleeding, infection, internal rupture of sutures, or even death.
Interested in learning why these surgeries lead to weight loss in some patients?
First, these surgeries reduce the amount of food stored in the stomach and the amount of calories your body can take in. This can help your body restore energy balance. Second, these surgeries change the levels of certain hormones and the way the brain responds to these hormones to control hunger urges. After surgery, some people are less interested in eating or they prefer to eat healthier foods. In some cases, genetic differences may affect how much weight loss patients experience after bariatric surgery.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (5)
Obesity Treatments | Obesity
Video by Howcast/YouTube
What's the Best Diet? Healthy Eating 101
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Mayo Clinic Minute: Heart-healthy diet for women
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Gastric Bypass at Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
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Gastric Banding at Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Video by Duke Health/YouTube
1:36
Obesity Treatments | Obesity
Howcast/YouTube
15:13
What's the Best Diet? Healthy Eating 101
DocMikeEvans/YouTube
1:01
Mayo Clinic Minute: Heart-healthy diet for women
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:45
Gastric Bypass at Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Duke Health/YouTube
2:35
Gastric Banding at Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
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Eating & Physical Activity
Fit Food
Image by TheVisualMD
Fit Food
You want your child to be fit and healthy for a whole lifetime. That’s why it’s so important for you to start helping him or her to develop healthy eating habits now. Changing habits is easier when you’re young. What’s more, tackling overweight early on can prevent many or all of the devastating medical effects of obesity.
Image by TheVisualMD
Keep Active & Eat Healthy to Improve Well-Being & Feel Great
Eating foods that are good for you and staying physically active may help you reach and maintain a healthy weight and improve how you feel. You also may find that moving more and eating better could help you keep up with the demands of your busy life and be there for the people who depend on you.
Why should I move more and eat better?
In addition to helping you reach and maintain a healthy weight, staying active and eating better may lower your chances of developing
type 2 diabetes, or high blood sugar
high blood pressure
kidney disease
heart disease
stroke
certain kinds of cancer
But improving your health isn’t the only reason to move more and eat better. You may also
have more energy for work, play, and family
feel better about yourself
manage stress better
set a good example for your children, friends, and other family members
tone your body—without losing your curves
Your family, friends, and coworkers can be a great source of support as you work to adopt healthier habits. Ask them to join your efforts. Being healthy is important for them, too. By making healthy choices together, you may find it’s easier to move more and eat better.
Should I talk to a health care professional before starting a physical activity program?
Most people don’t need to see a health care professional before starting a less intense physical activity, like walking. However, if you have chronic conditions, such as diabetes—or symptoms of chronic conditions—talk with a health professional about the type and amount of physical activity that’s best for you.
If you haven’t been active, work slowly toward the goal of 150 minutes per week.
How much physical activity do I need?
To maintain or improve your health, aim for 150 minutes per week—or at least 30 minutes on all or most days of the week—of moderate physical activity. Moderate activities are ones that you can talk—but not sing—while doing, such as brisk walking or dancing. These activities speed up your heart rate and breathing.
If you haven’t been active, work slowly toward the goal of 150 minutes per week. For example, start out doing light or moderate activities for shorter amounts of time throughout the week. You can gain some health benefits even if you do as little as 60 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.
For best results, spread out your physical activity throughout the week. Even 10 or 15 minutes at a time counts. And any amount of physical activity is better than none at all.
To lose weight and keep it off, you may need to be even more active. Shoot for 300 minutes per week, or an hour a day 5 days a week. On at least 2 days per week, also try activities that strengthen your muscles. Examples of these activities include workouts using hand weights or rubber strength bands.
How can I handle roadblocks to becoming more active?
Becoming more active isn’t easy. Different people may have different reasons for finding it hard to get moving. If some of the roadblocks below sound familiar, try the suggested tips to help you overcome them.
“I don't have time.”
Try sneaking a few minutes of physical activity at a time into your day. Get started by making these small changes in your daily routine:
Break your physical activity up into two or three 10-minute walks a day, if you can do so safely near work or home.
Take regular breaks from sitting at the computer or watching TV. Get up, move, and stretch by lifting your hands over your head. Twist side to side.
Schedule time to be active as you would a hair or work appointment, and stick to your plan.
“I'm going to ruin my hairstyle.”
If you avoid being active because you don’t want to ruin your hairstyle, try
a natural hairstyle, short haircut, braids, twists, locs, or wigs
wrapping a scarf around your hair; when you’re done with your workout, remove the scarf and let your hair air dry.
Tip: Physical activity may make the hair look dull or lead to salt buildup. To keep your hair healthy as you stay fit:
Cleanse your scalp with a clarifying product when needed.
Avoid harsh products that may strip hair of natural oils.
Limit the use of heat on hair, such as dryers and curling irons. If you use heat, also use low settings to protect hair from damage.
For styling ideas, consider viewing YouTube videos and visiting other relevant online hair groups and communities to be informed and inspired.
“It costs too much.”
You can be active without spending a lot of money—or any money at all:
Look for free or low-cost classes and activities in your community.
Walk in a mall, or walk or jog in a park or on a school track.
Gather friends and neighbors from your apartment complex and hold regular group workout sessions.
Find workout videos online and on YouTube if you have internet service—or DVDs at the library—and work out at home.
“Physical activity is a chore.”
Some people may be put off by physical activity, especially if they haven’t been active for a while or got hurt and are afraid of getting injured again. However, with some planning and effort, physical activity can be enjoyable:
Try being active with your kids—walk, jump rope, play flag football or tag, or toss a softball. Children should get an hour of physical activity each day.
Get a friend or family member to go biking or take a dance class with you. You can cheer each other on, have company, and feel safer when you’re outdoors.
Enjoy friendly competition with family and friends by setting a weight-loss challenge or entering a walking, biking, or running event for a worthy cause.
Physical activity can be fun when you do something you enjoy.
How can I eat healthier?
An example of a healthy meal includes vegetables, fruits, and small portions of protein and whole grains. These foods provide fiber and important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. When planning meals for you and your family, think about including
a salad or other different-colored vegetables, such as spinach; sweet potatoes; and red, green, orange, or yellow peppers
fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, or nondairy products such as almond or rice milk
different-colored fruits, including apples, bananas, and grapes
lean beef, pork, or other protein foods, such as chicken, seafood, eggs, tofu, or beans
whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and whole-grain cornmeal
Treats are okay if you have them once in a while. Just don’t eat foods such as candy, ice cream, or cookies every day. Limit sweet treats to special occasions, and keep portions small. Have one cookie or piece of candy, rather than trying every kind.
Remember that alcohol, juices, soda, and other sweet drinks have a lot of sugar and calories.
If you can’t have milk or milk products because you have trouble digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk, try lactose-free milk or yogurt. Besides milk and milk products, you can get calcium from calcium-added cereals, juices, and drinks made from soy or nuts. Eating dark green leafy vegetables such as collard greens and kale, and canned fish with soft bones like salmon, can also help you meet your body’s calcium needs.
How can reading the Nutrition Facts label help me?
Reading the information on the Nutrition Facts label can help you choose foods high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals; and low in sodium, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, which federal dietary guidelines (PDF, 3.94 MB) recommend Americans limit.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nutrition Facts label appears on most packaged foods and tells you how many calories and servings are in a box, can, or package. The label also shows how many nutrients are in one food serving. The FDA made changes in 2016 to update the Nutrition Facts label.
How can I handle roadblocks to healthy eating?
Eating healthy foods may seem hard when you don’t have time to cook or are on a tight budget. Try these tips to get past roadblocks that may keep you from eating well:
“I don't have time to cook healthy meals; I don’t really know how to cook.”
Eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Nor do you need to be a chef to prepare healthy meals. Here are ways you and your family can eat better without spending a lot of time preparing meals:
Buy frozen or precut veggies and add them to a salad or veggie wrap with pita bread for a quick meal. Or microwave the veggies and add them to whole-grain pasta.
When you cook, make enough for extra meals. Casseroles with veggies and whole grains, and a whole cooked chicken, may last a few days so you don’t have to cook another meal every day. Be sure to freeze or refrigerate leftovers right away to keep them safe to eat.
If you don’t feel comfortable cooking, try something easy, like combining your favorite fresh, frozen, or canned veggies to make a stir-fry. Check out websites, videos, and online blogs for more recipe ideas as your confidence builds.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat well.
“Eating well costs too much.”
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat well:
Avoid buying single portions of snacks, yogurt, and other foods, which costs more. Instead, buy in bulk or larger sizes and divide into smaller portions as needed.
Check newspaper ads for food sales. Clip coupons or print them from websites.
Buy fruits and vegetables in season, when they’re cheaper.
Try canned beans such as black, butter, kidney, pinto, and others. They’re loaded with protein, cost less than meat and fish, and make quick and easy additions to your meals.
Tip: Store brands may cost less than the most popular or well-known brands. You might have to look on shelves that are higher or lower than eye level to find them. Often, the product’s ingredients are the same as, or very similar to, the popular brands.
How can I eat well when away from home?
Here are some ways to make healthy food choices when you’re on the go:
Avoid heavy gravies, salad dressings, or sauces. Leave them off or ask for them on the side so you can control how much you eat.
Try to avoid fried foods and fast food. Instead of fried chicken, order baked, broiled, or grilled chicken, or a turkey sandwich with whole-grain bread.
Share a meal with a friend or take half of it home.
Take healthy snacks with you to work, such as apples or fat-free yogurt with fruit.
I can do it!
Set specific goals and move at your own pace to reach them. For example, instead of “I’ll be more active,” set a goal such as “I’ll take a walk after lunch at least 2 days a week.” Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to help you. They can join you, cheer you on, help you get back on track after a setback, and be there to celebrate your successes!
No matter what, keep trying. You can do it!
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (1)
Action Figure
Making the switch to healthy eating is vital, but physical activity is just as important. Obesity treatment that combines diet changes with increased activity is more successful in fighting obesity than treatment that focuses on diet alone.
Send this HealthJournal to your friends or across your social medias.
Obesity
Obesity means having too much body fat. Obesity is a serious medical condition that can cause complications such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and cancers. Read about the causes of obesity and find out what you can do to decrease your risk of associated health issues.