For many of us, it’s hard to find the time and energy to work in the recommended amount of exercise daily. Sometimes, the most relaxing way to counter a long day at the office is by consuming a filling meal. Ironically, by quenching hunger and then some, you may be on the road to an unhealthy disease. Excess body fat may suddenly accumulate, which is harmful to any lifestyle because your body’s weight affects a multitude of conditions.
Obesity
Obesity occurs when body fat climbs dangerously high. A BMI (body mass index) of 25-29.9 is considered “overweight”; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more. A person is said to be “morbidly obese” if their BMI exceeds 40.
Dangers of Obesity
Along with a lowered life expectancy, obesity has very negative lifelong effects. Possible conditions brought about by obesity include:
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol and triglycerides
- Type 2 diabetes
- Arthritis
- Poor bone health
- Cancer
- Sleep disorders
- Infertility
- Depression and mood swings
Causes of Obesity
There are many conditions and behaviors that may lead to obesity, the most obvious being the excessive consumption of calories. But aside from overeating, significant factors associated with obesity include:
- Increased age / reduced metabolic rate (BMR)
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Low physical activity
- Family history of obesity
- Type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome
- Thyroid and adrenal disorders
Hypothyroidism can cause significant weight gain
Adrenal stress and excessive cortisol production can cause weight gain - Other Hormone imbalances, such as estrogen dominance
- Medications
Antidepressants
High blood pressure medications - High-glycemic index foods, e.g., refined carbohydrates and high-fructose corn syrup
These factors are often linked together, making it harder to beat the disease without help.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a dangerous constellation of symptoms:
- Central obesity (fat concentrated around your belly)
- Low HDL (good) cholesterol with elevated triglycerides, also known as dyslipidemia
- High blood glucose (insulin resistance)
- High blood pressure
If you have metabolic syndrome, you are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This goes hand in hand with blood vessel damage (atherosclerosis), heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and nerve damage. People with metabolic syndrome are often considered pre-diabetic, which can turn into type 2 diabetes.
Diagnosis
Dr. Lalezar does not simply have you stand on a scale, record your weight, and set a target; she investigates to find which root causes of obesity may apply to your individual situation. Diagnostic tests include:
- Complete blood workup with chemistry, hormone, and specific thyroid panels
- Heavy metal toxicity testing (urine toxicology screening)
- Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes testing
- Cardiac risk markers (CRP, Homocysteine, and Ferritin)
- Detailed cholesterol and lipid profile (HDL, LDL, lipoproteins)
- Hemoglobin A1C test –measures glycated hemoglobin; indicates type 2 diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition
Integrative Treatment
Losing weight is already hard enough, and keeping it off is harder still. By confronting and treating the underlying conditions of obesity, Dr. Lalezar makes attaining a healthy weight easier than ever before. Her recommended treatments may include:
- Custom-tailored diet and exercise plans
- Hormonal imbalance correction (Bioidentical Hormone Therapy)
- Adrenal Fatigue Treatments
- Nutrient Infusion Therapy (IV Vitamin Therapy)
- High-bioavailability nutritional supplements and medical foods
- Lifestyle modification
- Heavy Metal Detoxification
- HCG Diet
- 12 Step Programs such as OA and CEA-HOW to address Compulsive and Overeating
- Liver Cleanse
Learn more about Obesity Treatments:
Dr. Shiva Lalezar will treat the underlying causes of your obesity. She employs an integrative approach, combining the best conventional therapies with the latest techniques and treatments in Functional Medicine for optimal results.
Call the Health & Vitality Center at 310-477-1166 or click here to schedule an appointment. We are one of the leading Functional Medicine centers in Los Angeles.