Obesity - overweight

Obesity or overweight

Being obese or overweight is simply having too much body fat, in kilos as well as a percentage (fat, muscle and bone mass ratio). It occurs in adults and children. Fatty tissue is very important for storing energy and for insulating the body and it has other functions too. The body can cope with some extra fat, but at a certain point this starts to have negative effects on the health.

Problems with being overweight

The serious health problems associated with obesity include: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, a higher risk of cerebral infarction(stroke) and heart attacks, joint problems, sleap apneoa, cancer, liver disease, gall bladder problems, reduced fertility, physical discomfort and social and emotional issues.

Causes of obesity

There are always several causes for someone becoming obese and they all usually contribute to the problem. Your background and lifestyle have a large impact. If one of your parents is seriously overweight, then it is more likely that you will become fat.

This can also be related to certain genes, or with the shared environment which perhaps only offered high calorie foods and little physical exercise. As they get older people generally become less active. Furthermore muscle mass decreases in time which means less calories are needed on a daily basis. If the amount of calories consumed does not decrease with the years this can result in weight gain.

Women are more likely to become oveweight than men. Women have less muscle mass which means that while they are inactive they burn less calories than men.

If you also smoke, regularly consume alcohol and lead a life which involves a high level of stress on a daily basis then this can cause problems in the long term.

The medical check-up can be a preventative safety net for these subtle risk factors.

What can we do for you?

Tests to screen for risk factors & diet

A number of medical tests can help us determine if your weight and body composition pose a threat to your health.
As well as determining the standard risk parameters (Body Mass Index, stomach circumference and body composition) we check whether your medical and family history pose any risks, so that we get a detailed picture of the possible individual damaging effects of your excess weight.
We perform a comprehensive blood analysis which evaluates the risk parameters linked to excess weight (sugar metabolism, liver tests, kidney tests, cholesterol levels, ...) We also measure your blood pressure and show you how to do it yourself at home.
As well as this we also need to rule out any possible food intolerance before we can begin a personalised diet plan. Many people are intolerant of certain foodstuffs without knowing it. This intolerance can be one of the main reasons for obesity. Using a special blood analysis test we comprehensively screen for food intolerance, so that we can formulate an effective personal diet plan which doesn’t just facilitate weight-loss, but which will also have a positive effect on your general health.
Our medical treatments

• Treating the medical problems.

If the screening reveals that you have a medical problem with your blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, ... then we will begin a suitable treatment in consultation with you and/or refer you to a specialist to treat and supervise your medical problem.

• Weight-loss under medical supervision.

We formulate a suitable treatment plan for you to correct your weight. It is important to lose weight responsibly and at the right tempo. We try to achieve this in a medically responsible manner which is as effective as possible for you. By avoiding foodstuffs which you do not tolerate (detected by the blood tests which reveal food intolerance) you will generally lose a considerable amount of weight by yourself.
Depending on your personal situation we can suggest a large choice of treatments / diet strategies.

• Stomach reduction.

Some people are not successful in their attempts to lose weight. Sometimes it is therefore necessary to have a stomach reduction to help.