WHAT IS OBESITY?
OBESITY, EXPLAINED
While most people have a general understanding that Obesity stands for being significantly overweight, few people realize the actual definition is a bit different. Currently, the best and most popular way used to define Obesity is through use of a Body Mass Index (BMI) measure. This number is found by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters) squared. Don't worry if the the relevance of this calculation is a little complicated; Chaudhry Bariatric's excellent staff and Dr. Rizwan Chaudhry are here to help you navigate through the entire process.
MORBID OBESITY
Morbid Obesity is a condition that you hear about most often when learning about possible obesity treatment procedures. It is a serious health condition that has the potential to interfere with basic functions that include breathing and walking. Generally, morbid obesity is defined as an individual who has a BMI over 35, associated with either high blood pressure, diabetes, prediabetes, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, and/or heart disease. Individuals with a BMI over 40 are also considered morbidly obese, even if they do not have any other medical conditions. People with obesity have been shown to die up to 20 years sooner than their non-obese counterparts. Individuals living with morbid obesity also face a greatly increased risk for developing breast cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer, severe liver disease, and severe depression, among numerous other problems.
CAN BMI TELL ME EVERYTHING?
While BMI is an excellent indicator of morbid obesity and obesity-related issues, it does not tell the whole story. Since BMI is based purely on height and weight, it does not take into account different body types or muscle levels. For example, a bodybuilder or athete who has a high percentage of muscle would have a higher BMI, though he/she may be quite healthy. On the other hand, someone who is very inactive may have a normal BMI, he/she may have a lot of body fat even if they may not look overweight. The simple BMI number also does not account for different age ranges. Generally speaking, BMI is an excellent tool - however, Dr. Chaudhry and our staff specialize in providing you with a much more detailed analysis of your body fat content.
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A different type of measurement to help you understand your weight is comparing the circumference of your waist to your height, known as the waist-to-height ratio. For this, take a measurement of your waist, with the tape measure going around your body at the top of your hip bones. Generally, the goal is for your waist circumference to be less than half your height. That said, please be advised these numbers are merely guidelines; please visit our office to learn more.
GETTING STARTED
Our staff is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding weight loss information, surgical procedures, or anything else. Please reach out to us at 832-408-9972, or read more about our procedures here.
WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING
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"I had surgery on July 11th, 2016 by Dr. Chaudhry. I have lost 120.5 pounds. I knew I needed to take control of my life. I fretted over making the first appointment to see Dr. Chaudhry. He was amazing. He was very detailed in explaining my options and truly made me feel comfortable.
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For once a doctor was supportive of helping me be successful, not judging me as if I had made bad life choices. He recommended the Gastric Sleeve. I wish I would have had surgery sooner. I feel better than I did in my twenties. I had let life get the best of me.
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Food had become my comfort and then my excuse. When I saw Dr. Chaudhry I weighed 274 pounds. I am now 154 pounds almost 10 months post op. I am off all of my other medications other than an occasional headache. I am enjoying things that I either physically couldn’t do or I was embarrassed.
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My outside now matches my inside. I am proud of who I am. I am proud of what I have become. I appreciate what Dr. Chaudhry has done for me."