Understanding Your Condition (Obesity)
Why Weight Gain Happens
Obesity is a long-term medical condition, not a personal failure. Many things cause weight gain, including genetics, hormones, stress, sleep, medications, and metabolism (CDC, 2023). Your body also tries to “protect” your weight, which makes losing weight and keeping it off harder.
Common Factors:
- Family history/ Genetics
- Sleep Issues
- Slower metabolism
- Hormones (like insulin, cortisol, and GLP-1)
- Stress or poor sleep
- Certain medications
- Lifestyle factors
(NIDDK, 2021)
Health Risks
Obesity affects your body in many ways. For example, it may cause metabolic changes that increase your risk of serious illnesses.
- Cardiovascular disease
- Fatty liver disease
- Gallstones
- Kidney disease
- Type 2-Diabetes
- Body aches
- Asthma
- Arthritis
(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)
How is Obesity Treated
Weight-loss medications:
Your provider might recommend adding medication to support your weight-loss plan, like semaglutide/Ozempic. Medications aren't the full answer, but they can help by reducing hunger or targeting other pathways linked to weight.
Eating changes:
Your diet should match what works for you. Your provider may recommend plans like the Mediterranean diet. These are flexible, healthy guidelines rather than strict diets.
Activity:
Being more active helps burn calories, and you can add movement to your day in many simple ways.
Mental health support:
Counseling or support groups can help with emotional or psychological challenges that affect your weight loss progress.
(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)
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