Obesity is a major public health challenge for the occupants of Dallas, Texas, as 38.5% of the city population qualifies as obese. Due to these alarming rates, it is crucial to address this health concern and seek productive solutions. One of the effective ways to tackle this health issue is Lively Med’s weight loss program.
Lively Med understands the struggle of shedding excessive weight while managing a big appetite. Therefore, its weight-shedding program includes GLP-1 injections and skinny shots to improve metabolism and reduce hunger.
Continue with the article to learn more about obesity and Lively Med’s weight loss programs as a treatment.
Understanding the Obesity Epidemic in Texas
Texas’s obesity rate is a growing health crisis as excessive accumulation of body fat poses significant long-term health risks that can affect daily life. It also impacts one’s physique, making cooking, cleaning, bathing, and dressing difficult, among other simple tasks.
Obesity Statistics in Texas
Between 1990 and 2019, Texas’s obesity rate has increased consistently compared to other states, ranking it 10th on the list of high obesity rates in US states. In 2019, 34.8% of Texans were classified as obese, compared to the national average of 30.9%. Due to this health crisis, the number of diabetes cases in the last decade has reached 1,962,059 in Texas.
Based on this data, the number of diabetic patients is projected to reach 2,851,687 by 2030. Furthermore, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity-related cancer cases are all expected to increase significantly by 2030. For example, heart disease cases alone are estimated to rise from 1,261,654 to 5,688,482.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Obesity
The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the obesity rates in Texas, particularly in ethnic and racial communities. This is because systemic inequality that has historically segregated these communities still negatively impacts their access to resources, leading to food insecurity, job loss, and poor access to healthcare facilities.
Types of Obesity
Obesity is a complex chronic disease in which the body accumulates an excessive amount of fat. It is essential to understand obesity types to treat this illness successfully.
1. Morbid Obesity
Morbid obesity is a severe and life-altering form of obesity, diagnosed if an individual weighs more than 80 to 100 lbs. above their ideal body weight. Healthcare practitioners use Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess an individual’s weight relative to their height. This metric provides a numerical value that classifies an individual’s weight status. Morbid obesity is identified if an adult scores 40 or above on the BMI.
Key Characteristics
- Extreme Excess Weight: Individuals with morbid obesity carry excessive body fat, well beyond what is considered healthy.
- Heightened Health Risks: This form of obesity is associated with an increased risk of serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, certain cancers, high mortality rate, and musculoskeletal problems.
- Psychosocial Effects: It can negatively affect social interactions, leading to depression, low self-esteem, social isolation, and discrimination.
- Complex Treatment Needs: Managing morbid obesity requires comprehensive medical intervention, as lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient. This obesity treatment involves lifestyle changes, medications, behavioral and psychological interventions, and surgical procedures.
2. Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where children and adolescents have high body fat, often due to unhealthy eating habits and a lack of physical activity. It poses significant health risks, including an increased likelihood of developing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension.
Key Characteristics
- Early Onset: Childhood Obesity generally begins early and can persist into adolescence and adulthood if not addressed. It is often identified by comparing a child’s BMI to age-specific and gender-specific growth charts.
- Health Consequences: Like adult obesity, it is linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and sleep disorders. Psychological side effects of being overweight include poor mental and emotional well-being, low self-esteem, and depression.
- Long-Term Impact: Obese children are more likely to carry this health concern into adulthood. This continuation of obesity increases their risk of developing chronic diseases and experiencing associated health complications later in life.
- Causes: The causes of childhood obesity are a combination of genetic, environmental, dietary, and physical activity factors. Sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary choices, and limited access to healthy foods can contribute significantly.
- Treatment: Addressing childhood obesity requires a comprehensive approach involving parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, and school personnel. These individuals can encourage the child to maintain a balanced diet, engage in physical activity daily, and follow healthy lifestyle habits. Early intervention and education are critical to mitigate the long-term health impacts of childhood obesity.
The Root Causes of Obesity
The root causes explain multiple factors that can contribute to extreme weight gain, leading to obesity. These can range from irregular eating patterns and low physical activity to insufficient sleeping hours. In addition, there are two main components that encourage the onset of obesity, which are:
1. Abdominal Obesity
Abdominal obesity, often called central obesity, is when excess visceral fat accumulates in the abdominal or belly area. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which lies beneath the skin, visceral fat surrounds and penetrates internal organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines.
The buildup of this fat is metabolically active and poses significant health-related issues like chronic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and metabolic syndrome. Abdominal area fat cells release inflammatory substances and fatty acids into the bloodstream, negatively affecting insulin sensitivity and cholesterol levels.
Visceral fat is particularly adept at causing insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin hormones. As this hormone regulates blood glucose levels, becoming insulin resistant can elevate blood sugar and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The accumulation of fat around vital organs also strains the heart. As a result, overweight individuals can develop atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries), increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Excessive visceral fat disrupts hormonal balance in the body by producing hormonal and inflammatory markers. This imbalance can cause mood fluctuations, slow metabolism, poor eating habits, weight gain, and poor brain functioning.
2. Sarcopenic Obesity
Sarcopenic obesity is a unique and complex health condition that primarily affects older adults. It is characterized by the coexistence of two seemingly contradictory issues: muscle loss (sarcopenia) and excess body fat (obesity). It reduces muscle mass and decreases physical strength mobility, causing weakness and increasing the risk of falls and fractures in senior adults.
Patients with this obesity can also experience difficulty performing daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries. As sarcopenic patients have poor balance, they have a high risk of fractures, broken bones, and hospitalization due to severe injuries.
Additionally, sarcopenic obesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism. These factors increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Managing sarcopenic obesity involves a multifaceted approach. For example, resistance exercise (strength training) to preserve and build muscle mass, dietary modifications to support muscle health, and weight management strategies to reduce excess body fat.
The Lively Med Weight Loss Program
Lively Med offers a comprehensive and holistic weight loss solution tailored to individuals dealing with obesity and overweight.
A Holistic Approach to Weight Loss
Lively Med acknowledges that effective weight loss is more than just shedding pounds. Therefore, it offers a plan that speeds up the metabolism, decreases appetite, elevates energy levels, and preserves lean body tissue.
Personalized Nutrition Plans
Individuals can receive a personalized nutrition plan as Lively Med understands that one treatment plan does not fit all. The weight loss program crafts nutrition plans according to the patient’s medical history and health complications. As a result, each individual receives the required nutrients in adequate proportions. In addition to tailored nutrition, it offers non-surgical weight loss injections like GLP-1 Injections and the Skinny Shot to speed up metabolism and break down fat to lower body weight.
Comprehensive Exercise Programs
As exercise is a cornerstone of successful weight loss, the program offers comprehensive exercise plans that are effective and enjoyable. By following these workout plans, individuals can show long-term commitment to fitness goals and obtain lasting results.
Medical Supervision
Weight loss is a complex process that varies for each individual, especially if they have underlying health conditions. Lively Med provides supervision of registered healthcare practitioners to deliver the care and guidance participants require to safely achieve their weight loss objectives.
The Effects of Obesity and the Importance of Prevention
Obesity has multiple adverse effects, making it essential to follow a prevention program. These are some common side effects of excessive body weight:
Health Implications of Obesity
The physical repercussions of obesity revolve around reduced muscle mass, weak bones, and skin-related problems. It also leads to a spectrum of serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, depression, and cancer.
Prevention Is Key
Prevention of obesity is more achievable and cost-effective than treating it at later stages. That is why Lively Med underscores the importance of prevention through education, healthy lifestyle choices, and early intervention.
Wrapping Up
The obesity epidemic in Texas is expanding rapidly and giving rise to various chronic health disorders. It is crucial to direct attention toward this disease and find robust preventive measures. Understanding the multifaceted challenges of obesity, its types, and its root causes can help prevent obesity and find an effective treatment plan.
The weight loss program by Lively Med is an obesity treatment plant that helps overweight individuals overcome obesity by reducing appetite, boosting metabolism, and preserving lean body tissue. So, contact Lively Med and book a consultation. Lively Med’s medical practitioners will evaluate your current health status and devise a weight loss plan that fits your medical needs. Call now and step toward a healthier tomorrow!