Obesity

Obesity is a body fat percentage greater than 25 percent in men or 30 percent in women. Morbid obesity is a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40. Men with morbid obesity are typically 100 pounds or more overweight while women generally are 80 pounds or more overweight.

Obesity is a common, serious condition that can lead to other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 30 percent of U.S. adults (more than 72 million people) are obese.

This condition affects children as well as adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects 16 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S. Obesity can lower life expectancy by as much as 20 years for men and five years for women, causing roughly 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

But obesity can be treated and relatively small amounts of weight loss—5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight—can significantly improve your health.

The benefits of losing weight include:

• Decreased overall mortality
• Fewer complications from heart disease
• Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Reduced risk of diseases like stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer

At Penn Medicine, you can access a team of weight loss experts who understand the challenges of weight loss and healthy weight management. Our bariatric surgery and weight management team offers surgical and nonsurgical options to help you reach your weight loss and health goals.

Obesity can cause many health conditions that affect your quality of life. These include:

• Cancer
• Congestive heart failure
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Infertility and pregnancy problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sleep apnea
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes

Penn Medicine provides specialized care for all obesity-related health conditions. From evaluation to treatment, we ensure you receive the highest quality care with experienced providers, all in one place.

Obesity is a complex disease that can be caused by many factors, including biology and genetics. Weight gain occurs when your body converts unused calories to fat. This can happen due to the type of food you eat, eating more food than your body can use, and not getting enough exercise. But, biology and genetics can also be a significant factor.

Biology and genetics play a role in how your body stores and uses food for energy. In some people, this process doesn’t work as well as it should. Factors that can also cause or contribute to obesity, include:

• Childhood weight issues
• Conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease 
• Ethnicity
• Medications like birth control pills, antidepressants, and antipsychotics
• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Slow metabolism
• Stress, anxiety, feeling sad, or not sleeping well

Our bariatric medicine specialists can help determine the reasons you struggle to lose weight or keep it off. They analyze possible biological, medical, and behavioral factors and create a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs.