FAQ

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a chronic illness that affects the lives of millions of Americans.  In fact, more than 1 out of every 3 American adults are obese today and that number is rapidly climbing.  For decades, obesity was simply viewed as a state of being extremely overweight due to increased dietary intake or not exercising enough.  We now know that obesity is not simply due to overeating and not hitting the gym.  There are multiple other factors that lead to obesity (genetics, hormonal imbalances, environment, etc) and for many people diet and exercise alone are not enough to combat the negative effects of obesity.

Obesity related problems and diseases:

People who are obese on average have a shortened life span compared to their non-obese counterparts.  Studies in the 1970s and 80s suggest that obese people die 5 to 20 years sooner than non-obese people.  Why is that?  Well, we now know that obesity is linked to most of the chronic diseases that plague American lives everyday.  The following is a list of obesity-related conditions:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Diabetes mellitus

High cholesterol

Coronary heart disease

Obstructive sleep apnea

Osteoarthritis

Cancer

Fatty liver disease

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Depression and Anxiety

These disease cause strokes, heart attacks, dangerous blood clots, kidney failure, liver failure, and early death.

What are the other effects of obesity?

If you find yourself frequently tired, unmotivated, or having general lack of energy, then you may be struggling from the effects of obesity.  Obesity creates a generalized state of inflammation in the body and when the body is fighting inflammation, it takes a toll on you.  Depression, anxiety and feelings of insecurity are frequently associated with obesity.

How is obesity measured?

Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a measure of body fat based on a person’s weight in relation to their height (kg/m2). A BMI of 30 or more classifies someone as obese. A BMI of 35-39.9 is classified as severely obese or class II obesity, and a BMI of 40 or greater is classified as class III obesity. Use this calculator to learn your BMI (here if you can link a BMI calculator)

Is surgery helpful?

Surgical treatment has been shown to be the most effective, long-term solution in treating obesity in individuals who have not been able to lose weight through diet and exercise.  Surgery for obesity is very safe and most patients are able to go home the day after surgery.  Dr. Chaudhry has successfully performed hundreds of bariatric procedures and has trained under some of the top pioneers and most respected leaders in the bariatric surgical community at the Cleveland Clinic.

Contact Dr. Chaudhry and his team for an appointment and make the choice to change your life today!  Free your mind and body from the shackles of obesity and make a fresh start to your life.