Obesity Clinic Brisbane Northside

Obesity is a growing problem for people living in Brisbane due to a lack of education and people making poor lifestyle decisions. As a result individuals are increasingly turning to GPs and health clinics to solve their weight problems.

Obesity is a condition involving an excessive amount of fat in the body. Obesity does not equate to being overweight or fat. It is a disease state and can cause serious health problems, affect well-being, and compromise a good quality of life and expectancy if not addressed.
Undergoing a weight loss program can improve body condition and prevent health problems associated with obesity. Dietary changes, increased physical activity, and behavioural changes can help in weight loss. At some instances, medications and weight loss surgery are recommended to address obesity.

How to Determine Obesity?

Obesity is diagnosed by identifying an individual’s body mass index (BMI). A person is deemed obese if the BMI is greater than or equal to 30. It is computed by dividing the weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters squared (m2). Below are the BMI classifications based on weight:

BMI Classification

Less than 18.5 Underweight
18.5 to 24.9 Normal
25.0 to 29.9 Overweight
30.0 to 34.9 Obese Class I
35.0 to 39.9 Obese Class II
40.0 or higher Obese Class III

For most people, the BMI is a good estimation of fat in the body. Athletes, however, may have a BMI in the obese category but may not have excess fat in the body because their weight is primarily made up of muscle weight. It is best to check with a general practitioner (GP) the BMI, assess health risks, and recommend any weight management programs, if necessary.

What Causes Obesity?

Genetics, well-being, and hormones play a huge role in influencing an individual’s body weight. Obesity happens if more calories are taken in and less physical activity happens on a daily basis. As a result, the calories are stored in the body as fat.

At some instances, obesity can be associated with a medical condition. Some of which are such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome but are rare conditions. Common causes of obesity include sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, and poor eating habits.

What Are the Potential Complications of Obesity?

If an individual is obese, he or she is highly likely to develop one or more of the following illnesses:

Hypertension
Stroke
Type 2 Diabetes
Cancer (including cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, oesophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate)
Sleep apnoea
Gallbladder disease
Gynaecological problems (infertility, irregular menstruation)
Sexual health issues
Fatty liver
Osteoarthritis

How Can Obesity Be Addressed?

By undergoing a weight management program, an obese individual will be given a customized plan, weight loss techniques, dietary plans, exercise programs, behaviour modification, and support system through support groups and educational discussions. Applying multiple techniques can increase a person’s chance of succeeding in managing his or her weight in the long run.

Usually, when a weight management program is designed, medical specialists who are trained in weight management collaborate to design the most effective program that will be most effective for their patients.

At Ubuntu Medical, we also do weight management